Transpupillary thermotherapy (TTT) for age-related macular degeneration

PURPOSE: To review the results of transpupillary thermotherapy (TTT) on choroidal neovascular membranes associated with age-related macular degeneration (AMD). MATERIALS AND METHODS: 35 eyes of 35 patients with AMD and choroidal neovascularization and exudation were treated with TTT and had fundus photographs and fluorescein angiography (FA) before and at least six months after TTT. 28 eyes had predominantly occult lesions as seen on FA, while 7 demonstrated primarily classic lesions. All were treated with 650mw power or less using the 810 nm diode laser (3000 micron spot, duration of 60 seconds). Visual acuity, lesion size, and amount of subretinal fluid were determined by results of examination and review of photographs and fluorescein angiograms. RESULTS: A 50% reduction in subretinal fluid was achieved in 67% of treated eyes overall, with stabilization of vision (less than three lines of visual acuity lost) in 86%. Complications from treatment were infrequent (9%) and involved hemorrhage noted in the region of treatment upon follow-up. CONCLUSION: TTT promotes resolution of subretinal fluid and appears to stabilize visual acuity in patients with exudative AMD.     

Transpupillary thermotherapy of occult choroidal neovascularization in age-related macular degeneration

Purpose. To evaluate the efficacy of transpupillary thermotherapy (TTT) in management of occult subfoveal choroidal neovascularization (CNV) in exudative age-related macular degeneration (AMD). Methods. Retrospective chart review of eyes that were treated with TTT and had at least 12 weeks of follow-up. Base-line and final ETDRS visual acuity and fluorescein angiography (FA) were compared. Results. For the 48 eyes which met inclusion criteria, mean pre-operative visual acuity was 20/128 (range: 20/50–20/500). Average follow-up was 27 weeks (range: 12 weeks–55 weeks). At 3 months after treatment, 12 eyes (25%) improved 2 lines or more, 18 eyes (37.5%) had no change or 1 line of visual improvement, and 18 eyes (37.5%) worsened 1 or more lines. No significant adverse event was noted during treatment. Three eyes developed large submacular hemorrhage within 2 months of treatment. Based on clinical examination and FA, 61% of the eyes appeared to have reduction of subretinal fluid compared to pre-operative evaluations. Conclusion. Visual acuity was stable or improved in 62.5% of eyes in our series and the treatment was well tolerated. Longer follow up and larger number of patients would be required to evaluate the ultimate benefit of TTT in management of occult CNV due to AMD.     

Transpupillary thermotherapy of occult choroidal neovascularization in age-related macular degeneration

PURPOSE: To evaluate the efficacy of transpupillary thermotherapy (TTT) in management of occult subfoveal choroidal neovascularization (CNV) in exudative age-related macular degeneration (AMD). METHODS: Retrospective chart review of eyes that were treated with TTT and had at least 12 weeks of follow-up. Base-line and final ETDRS visual acuity and fluorescein angiography (FA) were compared. RESULTS: For the 48 eyes which met inclusion criteria, mean pre-operative visual acuity was 20/128 (range: 20/50-20/500). Average follow-up was 27 weeks (range: 12 weeks-55 weeks). At 3 months after treatment, 12 eyes (25%) improved 2 lines or more, 18 eyes (37.5%) had no change or 1 line of visual improvement, and 18 eyes (37.5%) worsened 1 or more lines. No significant adverse event was noted during treatment. Three eyes developed large submacular hemorrhage within 2 months of treatment. Based on clinical examination and FA, 61% of the eyes appeared to have reduction of subretinal fluid compared to pre-operative evaluations. CONCLUSION: Visual acuity was stable or improved in 62.5% of eyes in our series and the treatment was well tolerated. Longer follow up and larger number of patients would be required to evaluate the ultimate benefit of TTT in management of occult CNV due to AMD.     

Subthreshold transpupillary thermotherapy for early resolution of foveal subretinal fluid in choroidal metastasis

PURPOSE: To report the effectiveness of subthreshold transpupillary thermotherapy (TTT) in the early resolution of subretinal fluid at the fovea in solitary choroidal metastasis. METHODS:: Three consecutive patients who had adenocarcinoma of the lung with choroidal metastasis and macular subretinal fluid were treated by subthreshold TTT. Tumor response and fluorescein angiographic and visual results were recorded. RESULTS: Fluorescein angiography revealed solitary choroidal metastasis at the posterior pole with subretinal fluid in all patients. Initial best-corrected visual acuity in Patient 1, a 57-year-old man, was 40/200. Instead of usual high laser intensity, three applications of TTT, 400-mW power, 3-mm size, and 1-minute duration, were performed over the tumor mass. Repeated treatment with the same regimen was performed after 1 week. Visual acuity improved to 20/25 2 months after treatment. Best-corrected visual acuity in Patient 2, a 68-year-old woman, was 10/200 in the right eye before treatment. Visual acuity improved to 80/200 after treatment and remained stable for 14 months. Visual acuity improved from 20/100 to 20/60 in a third patient 2 months after treatment. The disappearance of subretinal fluid over the fovea was noted by fluorescein angiography 2 months after laser treatment and remained stable until the end of follow-up. CONCLUSION: Improvement of visual acuity and cessation of fluorescein leakage in the tumor showed that subthreshold (i.e., biomicroscopically invisible laser effect) TTT served as an effective treatment modality in the early resolution of macular subretinal fluid in choroidal metastasis. Multiple sessions of subthreshold TTT are safe to apply very close to the macula.     

Long-term efficacy of transpupillary thermotherapy for subfoveal choroidal neovascularization in age-related macular degeneration

AIM: To determine the long-term efficacy of transpupillary thermotherapy (TTT) in the treatment of subfoveal choroidal neovascularization (CNV) in age-related macular degeneration (AMD). METHODS: Fourteen eyes of 14 patients with subfoveal CNV secondary to AMD were treated with diode laser (810nm) TTT. The mean age was 67.1 years. Complete ophthalmic examination was done, color fundus photographs and macular optical coherence tomography scans were taken, fluorescein and indocyanine green angiography were performed during initial and at subsequent follow-up examinations. Treatment was given in one minute using 2-3mm spot sizes, and laser power settings were between 650-800mW. The follow-up period was between 5 and 64 months and the mean was 28.6 months. RESULTS: There was subfoveal classic CNV in 10, predominantly classic CNV in 2, minimally classic CNV in 1, and type 1 occult CNV in one of the fourteen eyes. Four patients were noted to have post-treatment hemorrhage which was absorbed in a short time. Macular non-perfusion occurred in one patient immediately after treatment. Most of the eyes demonstrated a decrease in exudation during the follow-up. With a mean follow-up of 28.6 months, visual acuity improved in 5, remained the same in 8 and decreased in 1 of the 14 eyes. CONCLUSION: Transpupillary thermotherapy is shown to close subfoveal CNV with rapid resolution of subretinal fluid while maintaining visual function in patients with AMD. It may be performed as an alternative laser treatment in classic and predominantly classic subfoveal choroidal neovascularization due to AMD.     

经瞳孔温热疗法治疗孤立性脉络膜血管瘤

目的
观察经瞳孔温热疗法(transpupillary thermotherapy，TTT)治疗孤立性脉络膜血管瘤的疗效。
方法
回顾分析12例孤立性脉络膜血管瘤患者12只患眼采用TTT治疗的临床疗效。治疗使用Iris810 nm红外激光，能量220~1000 mW，光斑直径1.2、2.0、3.0 mm，照射时间1~2 min。观察治疗前后视力、视网膜下液、脉络膜血管瘤的厚度及渗漏的变化以及治疗的并发症等情况。随访6～16个月，平均随访10个月。
结果
12例脉络膜血管瘤患者中伴有周边视网膜脱离者8例，经TTT治疗后周边液体完全吸收6例，部分吸收2例。治疗后视力不变者7例、提高者3例、下降者2例。8例治疗前曾行B型超声检查者，治疗后B型超声检查7例瘤体厚度较治疗前降低，其厚度平均下降21.75%。10例治疗前行荧光素眼底血管造影检查者复查均可见瘤体的渗漏明显减轻。治疗的并发症有视网膜出血5例、视网膜皱褶1例。
结论
TTT是治疗脉络膜血管瘤的有效方法，特别适用于伴有明显视网膜脱离的患者。
(中华眼底病杂志, 2002, 18: 190-192)     

Transpupillary thermotherapy of occult CNV with no or minimally classic CNV in age-related macular degeneration

Transpupillary thermotherapy (TTT) has been suggested as a putative treatment for choroidal neovascularization (CNV) in age-related macular degeneration (AMD). This prospective study comprised 66 consecutive patients referred for exudative AMD with predominantly occult subfoveal CNV. Based on fluorescein angiography, there were 38 cases with occult CNV only, and 28 eyes with minimally classic CNV as well. Visual acuity was determined using the logarithmic ETDRS chart. For TTT a diode laser (810nm) with a power of 800 mW or 500-600 mW for a 3.0 mm spot was used (duration 60 sec.). Follow-up included clinical examination with biomicroscopy and fluorescein angiography at 2-3 months and 6 months in all cases. In the entire case material (n = 66), the mean visual acuity was preoperatively 20/125 (47.4 letters) and postoperatively 20/160 (41.8 letters) yielding a decay of 5.6 letters ("one line"). Visual acuity improved in 8 cases (12.1%), deteriorated in 17 (25.8%), and remained stable in 74.2%. In purely occult CNV visual acuity remained stable in 81.6% as compared to 64.3% in occult & minimally classic CNV; the former subgroup lost on the average 3.6 letters, the latter 8.3 letters (close to "two lines") over 6 months. The proportion of eyes losing at least 15 letters was 13.2% in purely occult CNV versus 35.7% in the occult & minimally classic subgroup. In 39 of 66 cases (59.1%) fluorescein leakage regressed to staining only concomitant with absorption of subretinal fluid. Complications associated with deterioration of visual acuity (17 cases) included postoperative hemorrhage, increase of exudation on angiography, and progressive fibrosis. The results indicate that TTT stabilizes visual acuity concomitant with regression of exudation and resorption of subretinal fluid in the majority of cases with predominantly occult CNV Cases with occult CNV only seem to do better than those with minimally classic CNV as well. The safety and complication rate appear to be acceptable. A randomized controlled trial is in progress.     

Transpupillary thermotherapy of occult CNV with no or minimally classic CNV in age-related macular degeneration

Transpupillary thermotherapy (TTT) has been suggested as a putative treatment for choroidal neovascularization (CNV) in age-related macular degeneration (AMD). This prospective study comprised 66 consecutive patients referred for exudative AMD with predominantly occult subfoveal CNV. Based on fluorescein angiography, there were 38 cases with occult CNV only, and 28 eyes with minimally classic CNV as well. Visual acuity was determined using the logarithmic ETDRS chart. For TTT a diode laser (810 nm) with a power of 800 mW or 500–600 mW for a 3.0 mm spot was used (duration 60 sec.). Follow-up included clinical examination with biomicroscopy and fluorescein angiography at 2–3 months and 6 months in all cases. In the entire case material (n = 66), the mean visual acuity was preoperatively 20/125 (47.4 letters) and postoperatively 20/160 (41.8 letters) yielding a decay of 5.6 letters (“one line”). Visual acuity improved in 8 cases (12.1%), deteriorated in 17 (25.8%), and remained stable in 74.2%. In purely occult CNV visual acuity remained stable in 81.6% as compared to 64.3% in occult & minimally classic CNV; the former subgroup lost on the average 3.6 letters, the latter 8.3 letters (close to “two lines”) over 6 months. The proportion of eyes losing at least 15 letters was 13.2% in purely occult CNV versus 35.7% in the occult & minimally classic subgroup. In 39 of 66 cases (59.1%) fluorescein leakage regressed to staining only concomitant with absorption of subretinal fluid. Complications associated with deterioration of visual acuity (17 cases) included postoperative hemorrhage, increase of exudation on angiography, and progressive fibrosis. The results indicate that TTT stabilizes visual acuity concomitant with regression of exudation and resorption of subretinal fluid in the majority of cases with predominantly occult CNV. Cases with occult CNV only seem to do better than those with minimally classic CNV as well. The safety and complication rate appear to be acceptable. A randomized controlled trial is in progress.     

经瞳孔温热疗法治疗老年黄斑变性所致黄斑中心凹下脉络膜新生血管的长期观察(英文)

目的:评价经瞳孔温热疗法(TTT)治疗年龄相关性黄斑变性(AMD)所致黄斑中心凹下脉络膜新生血管(CNV)的长期疗效。方法:AMD所致黄斑中心凹下脉络膜新生血管14例14眼。平均年龄67.1岁。记录详尽的眼科检查结果,拍摄彩色眼底相,并行黄斑部光学相干断层成像(OCT)检查。在初诊及随后的复诊中行眼底荧光素血管造影和吲哚青绿血管造影。TTT的治疗参数为:时间1min,光斑大小2 ~3mm,激光能量650 ~800mW。随诊时间5 ~64mo,平均28.6mo。结果:在14眼中,典型性CNV有10眼,典型为主性有2眼,1眼为少量典型性,1型隐匿性CNV有1眼。共4例患者出现治疗后出血,均在短期内吸收。有1眼在治疗后立刻出现了黄斑无灌注区。多数患眼在随诊中可见渗出逐渐减少。在平均28.6mo的随诊中,14只患眼,有5眼视力提高,8眼保持稳定,1眼视力下降。结论:经瞳孔温热疗法在AMD患者中能封闭黄斑中心凹下的CNV,促进网膜下积液的迅速吸收,从而稳定患者的视力。它可以作为一种治疗典型和典型为主性黄斑中心凹下脉络膜新生血管的激光治疗手段。     

Comparison of fluorescein angiography and optical coherence tomography for patients with choroidal neovascularization after photodynamic therapy

PURPOSE: To investigate retinal morphology by means of fluorescein angiography (FA) and optical coherence tomography (OCT) in patients who had undergone photodynamic therapy (PDT) with verteporfin at their 3-month-interval examination. METHODS: Sixty patients with predominantly classic choroidal neovascularization (CNV) secondary to age-related macular degeneration were evaluated with FA and OCT 3 months after their last PDT. FA images were evaluated in a masked fashion for staining of and leakage from the lesion and also for cystoid loculation of fluorescein in the macula. OCT was used to evaluate foveal thickness and the presence of subretinal fluid or cystoid spaces within the retina, also in a masked fashion. RESULTS: The median age of the 60 patients was 78 years, and the median visual acuity of the eyes examined was 20/100. The median number of previous PDT sessions was 2. Fluorescein staining was seen in 57 eyes (95%), and fluorescein leakage was seen in 50 eyes (83%). Cystoid loculation of fluorescein was seen in 21 eyes (35%). By OCT, cystoid spaces in the macula were seen in 42 patients (70%), and subretinal fluid was seen in 15 patients (25%). Leakage seen shown by FA was correlated with the OCT finding of cystoid spaces but not with the OCT finding of subretinal fluid. Some patients had leakage during FA that did not have any observable induced OCT abnormality attributable to fluid accumulation. CONCLUSIONS: After PDT leakage from CNV seen during FA is associated with intraretinal fluid, often seen in loculated cystoid spaces, but not with subretinal fluid.     

Transpupillary thermotherapy in subfoveal choroidal neovascular membrane secondary to age-related macular degeneration

PURPOSE: To report our initial experience in the treatment of subfoveal choroidal neovascular membrane, secondary to age-related macular degeneration (AMD) by transpupillary thermotherapy (TTT). METHODS: Fifty consecutive patients with subfoveal choroidal neovascularisation (CNV) secondary to AMD, were included in the study. The parameters assessed before the TTT were visual acuity by ETDRS chart, scotoma score by Amsler grid chart, reading speed, fundus examination by direct and indirect ophthalmoscope as well as +90 Diopter lens followed by digital fundus photography and fluorescein angiography (FA). RESULTS: The letter visual acuity improved or stabilized in 72% cases up to 12 weeks after TTT. Mean scotoma score decreased from a mean of 47.56, to 43.56 at 6 weeks and to 37 at 12 weeks. Mean reading speed increased from 27.04 words/minute at pretreatment to 34.52 words/minute at 6 weeks and 37.33 words/minute 12 weeks after TTT. CONCLUSION: TTT is not only a cheaper alternative to photodynamic therapy (PDT), but also is an efficacious tool in stabilisation or improvement of visual acuity in the management of subfoveal choroidal neovascular membrane due to AMD.     

The relationship between optical coherence tomography patterns, angiographic parameters and visual acuity in age-related macular degeneration

To assess the relationships between visual acuity (VA), fluorescein angiographic parameters and optical coherence tomography (OCT) patterns in exudative age-related macular degeneration (AMD). Fifty eyes with confirmed diagnosis of new exudative AMD who underwent fluorescein angiography (FA) and OCT evaluation were reviewed retrospectively. The greatest linear diameter of lesion (GLD) by FA and central foveal thickness (CFT) by OCT were measured. The OCT scans were evaluated for the presence of diffuse retinal thickening (D), cystic spaces (C), subretinal fluid (S) and pigment epithelial detachment (P) and five OCT patterns were detected (D + S; C; C + S; P + C + S; P + D + S). Angiographic classification of choroidal neovascularizations was performed. Correlations were statistically significant for VA and CFT in all patients whereas VA and GLD correlation was statistically significant only in predominantly classic and minimal classic lesions. The lowest VA values were detected in patients with COCT pattern and/or predominantly classic lesion type by FA. The OCT and FA findings when evaluated simultaneously may provide information regarding visual function in AMD.     

经瞳孔温热疗法治疗老年性黄斑变性的疗效观察

目的 观察经瞳孔温热疗法(transpupillary thermotherapy,TTT)治疗渗出型老年性黄斑变性(age—related macular degeneration，AMD)隐匿型脉络膜新生血管(choroidal neovascularization，CNV)的效果。方法 对28例34眼经眼底荧光血管造影(fundus fluorescein angiography，FFA)及吲哚青绿血管造影(indocyanine green angiography，ICGA)确诊的继发于渗出型AMD的隐匿型CNV行TTT治疗，并主要以视力、眼底检查、FFA及ICGA改变为指标，评价TTT治疗渗出型AMD的效果。结果 随访3～20个月，平均6.65个月，视力提高19眼，视力稳定13眼，视力下降2眼，视网膜水肿基本消退6眼，水肿明显减轻21眼，水肿无明显变化5眼，2眼水肿加重，出血吸收22眼，8眼出血减少，出血无明显变化者2例，另有2眼发生少量新鲜视网膜深层出血，第1次治疗后复查FFA及ICGA，10眼CNV消失，19眼CNV渗漏减轻，3眼无明显变化，2眼CNV增大。结论 TTT治疗可使大部分AMD患者视力稳定或提高，是一种极具潜力的治疗方式，但对其确切疗效的评价。尚需与自然病程及其他治疗方法对比。     

经瞳孔温热疗法治疗三种眼底良性肿瘤

目的 观察经瞳孔温热疗法（TTT）治疗三种眼内良性肿瘤的疗效。 方法 通过最佳矫正视力、眼压、视野、眼前节和眼底检查以及彩色眼底照相、荧光素钠和吲哚青绿血管造影、B型超声、光相干断层扫描（OCT）、CT等检查确诊的眼内良性肿瘤患者17例20只眼。男12例，女5例，右眼8只，左眼12只。其中，视盘血管瘤3例3只眼，平均视力为0.17，2只眼曾行手术放液;脉络膜血管瘤9例9只眼，平均视力为0.39，其中4例为首诊病例，5只眼曾做过激光光凝治疗，肿瘤未全平复，尚有浆液性视网膜脱离;脉络膜骨瘤5例8只眼，平均视力为0.20，其中3只眼合并黄斑出血。TTT用810 nm半导体红外激光，光斑3.0 mm，按肿物大小连接照射1～5个光斑。功率360～1200 mW，时间60～80 s。1～3次为1疗程，2次治疗之间间隔时间1个月;需要时再作1疗程治疗。治疗后定期随访观察，时间为3～36个月，平均随访时间14.5个月。 结果 随访结束时平均视力，视盘血管瘤患者为0.27，脉络膜血管瘤患者为0.46，脉络膜骨瘤患者为0.31。视盘血管瘤3只眼瘤体的红色部位缩小，表面纡曲扩张的血管变平直，视盘周围出现脉络膜萎缩弧，视网膜下浆液性渗出消失。脉络膜血管瘤9只眼瘤体透红光区消失，视网膜下积液消退，治疗区色素增生。脉络膜骨瘤8只眼中视网膜下积液吸收，肿瘤颜色由黄红变为黄白，并出现色素和薄的瘢痕，合并黄斑出血者出血消失。所有患眼治疗后未出现严重并发征。 结论 TTT治疗视盘血管瘤、脉络膜血管瘤和脉络膜骨瘤，无论首次接受治疗或补充以前治疗均获一定效果。 (中华眼底病杂志, 2006, 22:181-184)     

经瞳孔温热疗法和光动力疗法治疗渗出型老年性黄斑变性短期疗效比较

目的 比较经瞳孔温热疗法(TTT) 和光动力疗法(PDT)治疗渗出型 老年性黄斑变性(AMD)脉络膜新生血管(CNV)的疗效。 方法 对比分析渗出性AMD患者行PDT 治疗的35例42只眼、TTT治疗的35例40只眼治疗前和治疗后3个月的临床资料。所有患者治疗前后均进行视力 、荧光素眼底血管造影（FFA）、吲哚青绿血管造影（ICGA）和光相干断层扫描（OCT）检查 。CNV类型均为黄斑中心凹下型或旁中心凹型。其中，隐匿性或隐匿性为主型的CNV44只眼 ，典型性及典型性为主型的CNV38只眼。PDT治疗的42只眼中，隐匿性或隐匿性为主型CNV19只眼，典型性或典型性为主型CNV23眼；TTT治疗的40只眼中，隐匿性或隐匿性为主型CNV25只眼，典型性及典型性为主型CNV15只眼。 结果 典型性或典型性为主型CNV治疗后1、3个月时，PDT组分别有47.8%、43.5%的患眼视力提高2行以上；TTT组分别有6.7%、6.7%的患眼视力提高2行以上。两组之间治疗后1、3个月时视力提高的比例比较，差异均有显著性的意义（χ2=7.118,P=0.0076；χ2=5.500,P=0.0190）。PDT组分别有100%、69.6%的患眼CNV荧光素渗漏停止或改善；TTT组分别有53.2%、80.0%的患眼CNV荧光素渗漏停止或改善。两组之间治疗后1个月时CNV荧光素渗漏停止或改善的比例比较，差异有显著性的意义（χ2=13.16,P=0.0003）；3个月时CNV荧光素渗漏停止或改善的比例比较，差异无显著性的意义（χ2=0.5098,P=0.4752）。隐匿性或隐匿性为主型CNV治疗后1、3个月时，PDT组分别有15.8% 、10.5%的患眼视力提高2行以上；TTT组分别有4.0%、8.0%的患眼视力提高2行以上。两组之间治疗后1、3个月时视力提高的比例比较，差异均无显著性的意义（χ2=1.816,P=0.17 78；χ2=0.0838,P=0.7728）。PDT组分别有78。9%、42.1% 的患眼CNV荧光素渗漏停止或改善；TTT组分别有52.0%、84.0%的患眼CNV荧光素渗漏停止或改善。两组之间治疗后1个月时CNV荧光素渗漏停止或改善的比例比较，差异无显著性的意义（2=3.388,P=0.0657）；3个月时CNV荧光素渗漏停止或改善的比例比较，差异具有显著性的意义（χ2=8.433,P=0.0037）。 结论 典型性及典型性为主型CNV治疗后3个月视力结果PDT优于TTT；治疗后1个月时FFA检查渗漏改善PDT明显优于TTT，但随诊至3个月时，二者疗效差异无显著性的意义。隐匿性或隐匿性为主型CNV治疗后3个月视力结果PDT与TTT差异无显著性的意义；治疗后1个月FFA检查渗漏改善改善PDT与TTT差异无显著性的意义，但随诊至3个月时，CNV渗漏消失和减少方面TTT疗效明显好于PDT。尚需要更多的病例及更长的随诊时间来评价两种治疗方法的疗效.（中华眼底病杂志，2004，20：285-288）     

Intravitreal bevacizumab for exudative age-related macular degeneration after multiple treatments

Background Photodynamic therapy with verteporfin (PDT) significantly reduces the risk of vision loss in patients with exudative age-related macular degeneration (AMD). Indocyanine green-mediated photothrombosis (IMP) and transpupillary thermotherapy (TTT) may also be beneficial for selective cases of exudative AMD. However, a substantial subset of patients responds poorly to these treatments. Intravitreal bevacizumab (IVB) has been recently used in the treatment of exudative AMD, showing both visual and anatomic improvement in the majority of cases. Methods This interventional retrospective case series reports the effects of IVB in 17 eyes with subfoveal neovascular AMD that had undergone repeated PDT (combined or not with triamcinolone acetonide) or PDT followed by either IMP or TTT with poor results. The main outcome measures were visual acuity and tomographic signs of intra/subretinal fluid, as well as central retinal thickness. Results Most patients received a single IVB injection. The mean follow-up was 4.47 months. The mean logMAR visual acuity changed from 1.17±0.40 to 1.06±0.44 (P=0.17). The mean central retinal thickness decreased from 404.05±245.26 to 280.23±143.14 μm (P=0.032). At the end of the study, lack of tomographic signs of intra/subretinal fluid was noted in four (23.5%) eyes. No ocular or systemic side effects were identified. Conclusions Short-term results with IVB for the treatment of exudative AMD have been promising. However, the chronic retinal and pigment epithelium changes frequently present in eyes that underwent multiple previous treatments may limit complete visual recovery. To our knowledge, this is the first report on the use of IVB for this particular group of AMD patients.     

老年黄斑变性的视力与眼底病变及荧光造影的关系

对１５８例（２１３眼）老年黄变性（ＡＭＤ）及早期ＡＭＤ病人的视力，眼诋改变及眼底血管荧光造影（ＦＡ）进行了观察，发现视力≥１．０的病人也有出血，渗出，视网膜下新生血管膜（ＳＲＮＶＭ）视网膜神经上皮或色素上皮脱离（ＲＮＥＤ或ＲＰＥＤ），视力的损害与ＳＲＮＶＭ的部位有关。讨论了视力与眼底改变及ＦＦＡ的关系，并分析了以视力标准划分ＡＭＤ的界限的弊端，提出对视力正常，眼底，ＦＡ及视力功能检测的正常，应诊断     

Evaluation of subretinal triamcinolone acetonide in patients with exudative age-related macular degeneration.

PURPOSE: The aim of this paper was to present the results of subretinal delivery of triamcinolone acetonide (TCA) in humans with choroidal neovascularization (CNV) caused by age-related macular degeneration (AMD). METHODS: Twenty two (22) eyes of 22 patients underwent pars plana vitrectomy with subretinal TCA administration. Two milligrams (2 mg) of preservative-free TCA were delivered through a 32-gauge automatic subretinal injector in 20 microL of volume. Visual acuity, fluorescein angiography (FA), and intraocular pressure (IOP) were recorded and compared pre- and postoperatively. RESULTS: Preoperative average+/-standard deviation visual acuity in the treated eye was 1.408+/-0.129 (logMAR; median 20/400) and 1.403+/-0.114 (logMAR; median 20/300) postoperatively (P=0.51). The mean area of pre- and postoperative FA leakage in the operated eyes was 21.31+/-1.125 and 19.29+/-1.108 mm2, respectively (P=0.04). The average IOP value before treatment was 15.3+/-0.78 mmHg. Three (3) months after surgery, it was 20.5+/-2.04 mmHg (P=0.02). Six (6) months and 1 year after surgery, the average IOP was 17.0+/-0.66 mmHg (P=0.9) and 15.6+/-1.02 mmHg (P=0.6), respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Subretinal TCA stabilizes visual acuity, decreases FA leakage in eyes with CNV owing to AMD, and does not increase IOP, as seen with intravitreous injections.     

Transpupillary thermotherapy for the treatment of choroidal neovascularization in age-related macular degeneration in Taiwan

PURPOSE: To evaluate the therapeutic outcome and the recurrence of choroidal neovascularization (CNV) secondary to age-related macular degeneration (AMD) after transpupillary thermotherapy (TTT) in light-brown retinas. METHODS: A retrospective, non-randomized study of 58 eyes in 55 patients with subfoveal CNV treated with TTT was conducted. Power settings were set about half the value for Caucasian eyes. The outcome was assessed with best-corrected visual acuity, fluorescein angiography, indocyanine green angiography, and fundoscopic examination. RESULTS: Forty-four membranes were occult, six classic, and eight mixed. Mean follow-up was 16.6+/-10.7 months (range: 6-48 months). Membranes closed in 46 eyes. Iatrogenic complications included three subretinal haemorrhage, two retinal pigment epithelium tears, and two macular area cystic changes. In eyes with occult CNV, visual acuity improved in six (13.6%), 14 (31.8%) remained unchanged, and 24 (54.6%) deteriorated. For various CNV, average logMAR changes from baseline at last follow-up were 0.30 in occult, -0.08 in classic, and 0.59 in mixed (P<0.01). Thirty eyes experienced recurrence within 9.2+/-6.2 months (range: 2-22 months). Cumulative recurrence rate was 45% at 12 months and 71% at 22 months, with no significant difference between occult and non-occult type CNV. CONCLUSIONS: Transpupillary thermotherapy does not cure CNV secondary to AMD. High recurrence was found independent of CNV type. Most improved vision was found mostly in classic CNV. Complications associated with high energy level should be considered in light-brown retinas.     

光动力疗法治疗渗出型老年性黄斑变性的初步报告

目的 观察单次光动力治疗(photodynamic therapy,PDT)对渗出型老年性黄斑变性(age-related macular degeneration,AMD)脉络膜新生血管(choroidal neovascularization,CNV)的近期治疗效果。 方法 回顾分析经荧光素眼底血管造影(fundus fluorescein angiography, FFA)、吲哚青绿脉络膜血管造影(indocyanine green angiography, ICGA)以及光学相干断层扫描(optic coherence tomography,OCT)检查确诊的5例渗出型AMD患者的7只患眼行PDT治疗前及治疗后随访观察1周和1个月时的临床资料,主要以视力、FFA及(或)ICGA、OCT的改变为观察指标,评价PDT对渗出型AMD的治疗效果。 结果 7只患眼在治疗后1个月视力均无下降。治疗后1周时除1只眼在ICGA后期仍可观察到CNV有轻微渗漏外,其余6只眼FFA及(或)ICGA均显示CNV渗漏停止;OCT检查显示CNV有不同程度缩小,CNV周围视网膜脉络膜水肿及神经上皮脱离明显好转。但在治疗后1个月时观察到有2只眼在原渗漏病灶处又有渗漏灶出现。 结论PDT 治疗可以在短期内封闭AMD的CNV,使其停止渗漏,且不影响视力。(中华眼底病杂志,2000,16:213-216)