Comparison of Evidence of Low-intensity Laser Burns on Immediate Post Treatment Color Photographs and Post Treatment 12-month Angiograms in the Complications of Age-related Macular Degeneration Prevention Trial (capt)

Abstract

Abstract: : Purpose: To compare the visibility of low-intensity laser burns on immediate post treatment photographs versus one-year post treatment fluorescein angiograms in CAPT. Methods: The CAPT treatment protocol specified that laser burns were to be barely visible at the time of treatment and greater than 500µ from the foveal center. Readers made an initial assessment of the number of visible burns on immediate post-treatment color photographs (0, <10, 10-29, > 30 visible burns). On a weighted random sample of 100 treated eyes, readers graded the 12-month angiogram by counting the number of burns visible in specific areas of the retina Results: Eyes with no visible burns on color photographs averaged 27 burns on angiograms. Eyes with 10-29 burns on color photographs averaged 37 burns on angiograms. Eyes with > 30 burns visible on color photographs averaged 51 burns on angiograms. Of 9 eyes with no visible burns on color photographs, 6 had evidence of treatment burns on angiograms. In two patients, readers were able to detect burns within 500µ of the foveal center on angiograms that were not visible on color photographs. Conclusions: Under a treatment protocol specifying barely visible burns, more laser burns can be discerned on 1 year post treatment angiograms than on immediate post treatment color photographs.

Keywords: clinical (human) or epidemiologic studies: tre • age-related macular degeneration