Abstract
Abstract: :
Purpose: To determine the efficacy of transpupillary thermotherapy (TTT) for the treatment of predominately occult subfoveal choroidal neovascular membranes (CNVM) secondary to age related macular degeneration (AMD). Methods: Patients with AMD, ETDRS visual acuity between 20/60 and 20/800 andsubfoveal CNV with at least 51% component of occult disease were initially eligible for the study. Upon IRB approval, completion of screening and informed consent, eligible patients were enrolled in the prospective multi-center study. TTT was delivered to the subfoveal CNV via slit lamp using a modified infrared diode laser. Patients were evaluated preoperatively and at 1,3,6,9,12 and 18 months after initial treatment. Dilated ophthalmoscopy, visual acuity, standardized fluoresecein photography and flourescein angiography were obtained and evaluated. Results were compared to the published natural history of the disease. Results: Thus far, 78 of the 114 initial patients have completed the one-year follow up interval, and 35 patients have completed the 18 month interval. To date, 43.3% of patients have suffered loss of at least 3 lines of vision at 12 months. Median visual acuity was 20/285 and 20/250 at 12 and 18 months, respectively. Conclusion: Despite 18% of patients with the loss of 3 or more lines of vision at one month post-treatment, only 43.3% of patients have lost 3 or more lines after 12 months. Post-TTT visual acuity stabilized after 6 months at 20/250.