Severe Vision Decrease within One Week following Photodynamic Therapy

Abstract

Abstract: : Purpose: To evaluate the incidence and outcomes of patients experiencing severe vision decrease (SVD) within one week after photodynamic therapy (PDT). Methods: A retrospective, non-comparative case series. Results: Four patients (0.5%) out of 809 experienced SVD, defined as a 20-letter vision loss within 7 days of treatment. Within 3 months, 3 of the 4 patients recovered vision to less than 20-letter vision loss. Two of the 4 patients recovered their pretreatment visual acuity. The mechanisms for SVD are probable choroidal non-perfusion (2) and submacular hemorrhage (2). Conclusion: SVD is an uncommon event following PDT but vision often improves during follow up.

Keywords: 346 choroid: neovascularization • 308 age-related macular degeneration • 516 photodynamic therapy