Abstract
Abstract: :
Purpose:To study the effects of photodynamic therapy using verteporfin in the treatment of patients with subfoveal polypoidal choroidal vasculopathy (PCV). Methods:A retrospective chart review of 17 consecutive patients with subfoveal PCV treated with photodynamic therapy using verteporfin was performed. Results:The mean age of the patients involved was 70.6 years. The mean follow-up time was 10 months. The visual acuity improved in 10 (58.8 %), remained the same in 6 (35.3 %), and decreased in 1 (5.9 %). The mean change in visual acuity was an improvement of 2.23 lines, a difference that was highly significant (p =.001). The change in visual acuity was negatively correlated with increasing age. The final visual acuity was positively correlated with initial acuity and negatively correlated with age. These results were confirmed by multiple linear regression. No patient had any lasting complication from the treatment. Conclusion:Although the follow-up time and the number of patients in this pilot study were limited, the encouraging results and lack of complications suggest that further study is indicated.
Keywords: 516 photodynamic therapy • 346 choroid: neovascularization • 308 age-related macular degeneration