Abstract
Abstract: :
Purpose: Several methods of treatment have been used for choroidal neovascularization (CNV) in age-related macular degeneration (AMD). The purpose of this report is to evaluate the effectiveness of a novel therapeutic modality, thermodynamic therapy (TDT), to treat classic/predominantly classic subfoveal lesions in AMD. Methods: A prospective study was conducted to evaluate the clinical features, treatments results, and complications of 9 patients with classic/predominantly classic subfoveal CNV who were submitted to a single session of TDT, which consists of low irradiance 810-nm light application associated to intravenous injection of high-concentration indocyanine green (ICG) bolus, and followed for at least a 3 months period. Results: The final visual acuity was the same in five eyes (55%), increased in three eyes (33%) and decreased in one eye (11%) by 3 months of follow-up. The improved vision was due to diminution of the subfoveal fluid, whereas the decreased vision was primarily the result of failure of treatment to achieve CNV occlusion. Interestingly, complete or partial resolution of subretinal fluid demonstrated by optical coherence tomography after TDT was usually not consisted with fluorescein angiography findings. Conclusion: This preliminary study suggests that TDT appears to be an effective treatment for classic/predominantly classic subfoveal CNV with minimal adverse effect on visual acuity in most cases.
Keywords: 308 age-related macular degeneration • 346 choroid: neovascularization • 454 laser