Abstract
Abstract: :
Purpose:To determine if photodynamic therapy (PDT) with verteporfin is a feasible treatment option for stabilization of vision in patients with recurrent or persistent choroidal neovascularization (CNV) that have previously received thermal laser treatment. Methods:A retrospective analysis of 34 eyes of 34 patients that received PDT subsequent to treatment of CNV with argon or krypton laser photocoagulation was performed. Patients that have received submacular surgery were excluded. Demographic, angiographic, and visual outcome data were analyzed. Results:The diagnosis of CNV was primarily associated with age-related macular degeneration (75%) presumed ocular histoplasmosis (12%), myopic degeneration (9%) and idiopathic (3%). Data collected with average follow-up of 9 months showed 12 (35%) eyes had a doubling of the visual angle while 22 (65%) lost less than a doubling of the visual angle. When compared to a natural history group the relative risk was 0.658 (p-value=0.036). Mean number of PDT treatments was 2.18. Data with average follow-up of 18 months will be presented. Conclusion:The data with average follow-up of 9 months suggest that PDT with verteporfin may lead to visual stabilization in patients with CNV who have received prior treatment with thermal laser treatment. The 18-month data will help determine if this vision stabilization is sustained for a longer period of time.
Keywords: 516 photodynamic therapy • 346 choroid: neovascularization • 357 clinical (human) or epidemiologic studies: treatment/prevention assessment/controlled clinical trials