Treatment of Subfoveal Choroidal Neovascularization Secondary to Age Related Macular Degeneration with Single Treatment of Verteporfin Photodynamic Therapy: A Safety and Short-Term Outcome
Pakitti Tayanithi MD*, Petch Pisankosakul MD*, Prasart Laksakapuk MD*
Affiliation : * Department of Ophthalmology, Faculty of Medicine, Chulalongkorn University
Objective : To evaluate the short-term efficacy on visual outcome and safety of a single treatment of photodynamic therapy
with verteporfin using the standard dosage regimen in patients with predominantly classic subfoveal choroidal
neovascularization (CNV) from age related macular degeneration.
Design : Prospective, noncomparative, consecutive, interventional case series.
Setting : Department of Ophthalmology, Chulalongkorn University and Hospital, Bangkok, Thailand.
Participants : Patients with subfoveal CNV caused by age related macular degeneration.
Method : Standardized protocol refraction, visual acuity testing, complete ophthalmic examination, color photography,
and fluorescein angiography were used to evaluate the effects of a single treatment of photodynamic therapy with verteporfin.
Follow-up was planned through 3 months in all patients.
Results : A total of 39 eyes from 35 patients enrolled into the present study and have completed 3 months follow-up. The
mean + SD logMAR BCVA at baseline was 0.76 + 0.48, equivalent to the Snellen BCVA of 20/114 (range, 20/40 to 20/1000).
The mean + SD logMAR BCVA at the final 3-month visit was 0.55 + 0.37, which was a Snellen equivalent of 20/70 (range,
20/30 to 20/1000). The mean line of BCVA improvement was 2.1 lines. The improvement in BCVA at the 3-month follow-up
was statistically significant (Wilcoxon signed-rank test, P = .043). No patient suffered moderate loss of vision or a loss of
vision in 2 or more lines. None of the patients suffered severe visual threatening adverse events at the time of treatment and
during the study period.
Conclusions : The results of short-term visual outcome is encouraging; PDT is the least invasive treatment method
currently available to achieve a stable or improved vision in AMD patients. PDT with verteporfin can lead to cessation of
fluorescein leakage from CNV for up to 3 months, with stabilization or improvement of vision for 12 weeks. A randomized,
controlled study in the near future would be beneficial to demonstrate the long-term results and efficacy in the treatment of
CNV associated with AMD.
Keywords : Photodynamic therapy, PDT, Verteporfin, Visudyne, Age related macular degeneration, AMD, Single treatment
