Photodynamic Therapy for AMD and Non-AMD Patients: One-Year Results in Thais
Mansing Ratanasukon MD*, Siriraksa Visaetsilpanonta MD*, Prut Hanutsaha MD**, Direk Patikulsila MD***
Affiliation : * Department of Ophthalmology, Faculty of Medicine, Prince of Songkla University, Songkhla ** Department of Ophthalmology, Faculty of Medicine, Ramathibodi Hospital, Mahidol University, Bangkok *** Department of Ophthalmology, Faculty of Medicine, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai
Objective : To evaluate the effect of photodynamic therapy (PDT) with verteporfin for age-related macular
degeneration (AMD) and non-AMD in Thais, and compare with the Treatment of Age-Related Macular De-
generation with Photodynamic Therapy (TAP) and Verteporfin in Photodynamic Therapy (VIP) study.
Materials and Methods : The authors prospectively evaluated all data of 51 eyes of 51 patients who had
undergone PDT and accomplished a 1-year follow up. The assessments were divided into two categories: group
1 included three subsets of AMD, and group 2 was non-AMD. The first group classified into three subgroups:
group1A: AMD with subfoveal choroidal neovascularization (CNV) and TAP/VIP compatible with recommen-
dation guidelines characteristics, group 1B: AMD with subfoveal CNV and TAP/VIP incompatible, and group
1C: AMD with non-subfoveal CNV. The measurement outcomes comprised of the baseline characteristics,
change in visual acuity, and number of treatments.
Results : Thirty-eight eyes had CNV-related AMD and 13 eyes were non-AMD. At the 12-month examination,
the mean visual acuity change in group 1A, 1B, 1C had increased 0.19 (p = 0.077), 0.14 (p = 0.076), and 0.24
(p = 0.003), respectively. The number of treatments was 1.8 in group 1A, 2.3 in group 1B, and 1.5 in group 1C.
Conclusion : PDT is beneficial to Thai patients with AMD at first year, even if they were not compatible with
TAP/VIP criteria.
Keywords : Photodynamic therapy, Age-related macular degeneration AMD, Non-AMD, Thais
