[Clinical study of photodynamic therapy for exudative age-related degeneration].

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effects of photodynamic therapy on subfoveal choroidal neovascularization (CNV) in patients with age-related macular degeneration (AMD). METHODS: 93 patients (98 eyes) with subfoveal CNV secondary to AMD treated with verteporfin PDT from August 2000 to February 2006 were retrospectively analyzed. All patients received verteporfin PDT and were followed clinically with visual acuity testing, fundus fluorescein angiography (FFA) and indocyanine green angiography (ICGA). RESULTS: The visual acuity was stabilized in 59 eyes (60.2%), improved in 21 eyes (21.4%), and decreased in 18 eyes (18.3%) 6 months after PDT. 54 patients (54 eyes, 55.1%) received multiple sessions of PDT because the recurrence of CNV leakage. The intervals of additional courses of treatment were variable from 1 month (1 eye), 3 months (24 eyes), 6 months (15 eyes), 9 months (6 eyes) to more than 12 months (8 eyes). 40 eyes received two sessions, 12 received three courses and 2 received 4 times repeated treatment. All patients received the 1.7 treatments in average. The Mean time of follow-up was 14 months (6 - 58 months). No serious side effect was recorded. CONCLUSIONS: PDT is a safe and effective treatment for patients with CNV from AMD, however, retreatments are required.