维替泊芬治疗脉络膜骨瘤伴发的中心凹下脉络膜新生血管

目的：报道维替泊芬治疗脉络膜骨瘤伴发的中心凹下脉络膜新生血管（CNV）1例。方法：介入式个案报道结果：1例患者,32岁,确诊为右眼脉络膜骨瘤伴发性中心凹下脉络膜新生血管。治疗前视力20／80,N24。该患者右眼接受2次光动力治疗（PDT）,治疗后12mo视力为20／200,CNV完全消退。结论：对于脉络膜骨瘤伴发的中心凹下脉络膜新生血管,PDT不失为一种治疗选择。     

Photodynamic therapy with verteporfin for choroidal neovascularization in patients with diabetic retinopathy.

PURPOSE: To report the use of photodynamic therapy (PDT) with verteporfin in three patients with choroidal neovascularization (CNV) from age-related macular degeneration and underlying diabetic retinopathy. The level of diabetic retinopathy would have excluded these patients from participation in previously reported randomized clinical trials evaluating PDT with verteporfin due to a theoretic concern of damage to the overlying retinal vasculature. DESIGN: Retrospective interventional case series. METHODS: Three patients from a referral practice with at least severe nonproliferative diabetic retinopathy and a history of clinically significant macular edema developed loss of vision from concurrent choroidal neovascularization evaluated with fundus photography and fluorescein angiography before and after PDT with verteporfin to identify adverse retinal vascular events. RESULTS: Four eyes in three patients had PDT using verteporfin. Three eyes received two treatments. With short follow-up, visual acuity remained stable in two eyes, improved from 20/400 to 20/320 in one eye, and decreased from 20/200 to 20/400 in one eye. Fluorescein angiograms at intervals from 2 weeks to 3 months after PDT showed no damage to the retinal vasculature or progression of the diabetic retinopathy, but did show a decreased area of fluorescein leakage from CNV. One eye that had new subretinal hemorrhage following treatment appeared to show new vasculopathy on initial evaluation of the post-treatment angiogram. Retrospective review suggested that the subretinal hemorrhage provided increased contrast to more easily visualize vasculopathy that was present before the PDT. CONCLUSIONS: Three patients with diabetic retinopathy undergoing a total of seven PDT treatments with verteporfin in four eyes had no new retinal vascular abnormalities develop. No other atypical responses of CNV to PDT were noted except new subretinal hemorrhage, providing increased contrast of the overlying vasculature, which gave the false impression of the development of new vasculopathy in one eye. Patients with diabetic retinopathy who have concurrent CNV for which PDT with verteporfin is recommended should be cautioned regarding the theoretical concerns of harming the retinal vasculature. Periodic surveillance for such concerns seems warranted until more experience is obtained.     

Photodynamic therapy for subfoveal choroidal neovascularisation in Vogt-Koyanagi-Harada disease

AIM: To assess the effects of photodynamic therapy (PDT) with verteporfin in the treatment of subfoveal choroidal neovascularisation (CNV) secondary to Vogt-Koyanagi-Harada disease (VKH). METHODS: Six eyes of six patients with VKH who developed subfoveal CNV underwent standard PDT. Repeated treatments were performed at 3 month intervals for persistent leakage. Charts and angiographic data were analysed retrospectively. RESULTS: Age of patients ranged between 17 years and 27 years. Five CNV lesions were recent and classic (greatest lesion diameter was 1100-3100 microm). One CNV was chronic and partially scarred. Mean visual acuity (VA) at presentation was 20/200. Five patients had more than 1 year of follow up. In five eyes there was active inflammation and CNV. Of these eyes, the first three required one PDT each. The final CNV scar was smaller/stable with improvement of VA in two eyes. The third developed a larger CNV scar with loss of two lines of VA. Submacular fibrosis developed in all three. In the fourth eye, mild CNV leakage persisted after one PDT but hazy media precluded a second PDT. At 18 months the CNV scar and VA were stable. The fifth case, with mild inflammation, required three PDT. The CNV leakage became minimal, the lesion became smaller, and VA improved significantly. The sixth eye with CNV had no inflammation and needed two PDT sessions to halt the CNV leakage. The final lesion was smaller and vision was stable. There were no PDT related complications in our series. CONCLUSION: Photodynamic therapy with verteporfin appears to be a safe and viable treatment option for subfoveal CNV secondary to VKH. It offers a chance for stabilisation or even improvement of vision. Further study is warranted.     

光动力疗法治疗湿性年龄相关性黄斑变性脉络膜新生血管膜的临床效果

目的探讨光动力疗法（PDT）对湿性年龄相关性黄斑变性（AMD）患者脉络膜新生血管（CNV）膜的临床疗效。方法回顾性分析2000年8月至2006年2月经PDT治疗后随访≥6个月的93例（98只眼）湿性AMD患者的临床效果,比较其治疗前后的视力、荧光素眼底血管造影（FFA）及吲哚氰绿眼底血管造影（ICGA）图像特征。结果PDT治疗后6个月,患者视力稳定不变的有59只眼（60．2％）,视力提高的有21只眼（21．4％）,视力下降的有18只眼（18．3％）。经FFA检查发现CNV复发且重复治疗者有54只眼（55．1％）;重复治疗时间：1个月者1只眼,3个月者24只眼,6个月者15只眼,9个月者6只眼,〉12个月者8只眼。54只眼重复治疗次数：2次40只眼,3次12只眼,4次2只眼,平均治疗次数为1．7次。随访时间：6—58个月,平均14个月。所有病例均未见严重的不良反应。结论PDT是治疗CNV的安全、有效方法,但需反复治疗。     

Verteporfin photodynamic therapy for the treatment of persistent subfoveal choroidal neovascularization after external beam radiotherapy: one-year results

PURPOSE: To determine the safety and efficacy of verteporfin photodynamic therapy (PDT) for the treatment of persistent choroidal neovascularization (CNV) previously treated with external beam radiotherapy (EBRT). DESIGN: Retrospective case series. METHODS: Verteporfin PDT was performed on 14 eyes of 13 patients with symptomatic leakage from CNV previously treated by EBRT. Principal outcome measures were: comparison of visual acuity at 12 months post-PDT with baseline and the recording of any ocular or systemic adverse events. RESULTS: At baseline, the mean logMAR (+/-SD) VA was 0.81 +/- 0.33, whereas at the 12-month point it was 0.89 +/- 0.43 (P = .326). At the 12-month examination 10 eyes had lost less than 3 lines of VA, and 8 eyes had lost less than 1.5 lines. During this time, there were 2.1 PDT treatment sessions per eye on average (range = 1 to 4). There were no ocular or systemic adverse events recorded. CONCLUSIONS: This short-term study shows that verteporfin PDT is safe after EBRT and may be of benefit for recalcitrant CNV.     

Photodynamic therapy with verteporfin for choroidal neovascularization associated with retinal pigment epithelial detachment in age-related macular degeneration

PURPOSE: To assess the effectiveness of photodynamic therapy (PDT) with verteporfin for choroidal neovascularization (CNV) associated with retinal pigment epithelium detachment (PED) in age-related macular degeneration. METHODS: Thirty eyes of 26 patients with CNV and PED were treated with PDT. The eyes were divided in two groups based on CNV location in relation to PED; group 1 included 13 eyes with CNV within PED, and group 2 included 17 eyes with CNV at the edge of PED. The median follow-up was 16 months. RESULTS: Patients received a mean +/- SD of 2.83 +/- 1.26 treatments (range, 1-6 treatments). In the whole cohort, the mean preoperative visual acuity changed from 20/144 (0.86 +/- 0.42 logarithm of minimal angle of resolution [logMAR]) to 20/182 (0.96 +/- 0.51 logMAR; P = 0.39) at month 18. Five eyes (16%) gained a mean of 1.5 Snellen lines from baseline. Twelve eyes (40%) lost a mean of 1.7 Snellen lines of visual acuity. Vision in 13 eyes (44%) remained stable. In group 1, the mean visual acuity at month 12 was 20/303 (1.18 +/- 0.51 logMAR) and significantly (P = 0.015) worse than that, 20/110 (0.74 +/- 0.42 logMAR), in group 2. CONCLUSION: PDT can improve or stabilize visual function in 60% of eyes with vascularized PED. CNV at the edge of PED appears to respond more favorably to PDT. Appropriate patient selection and prompt treatment are essential to obtain the best outcomes after verteporfin therapy.     

Unfavorable effect of photodynamic therapy for late subretinal neovascularization with chorioretinal anastomoses associated with idiopathic multiple serous detachments of the retinal pigment epithelium

PURPOSE: To describe a case of a 46-year-old woman with an asymptomatic history of unilateral multiple serous detachments of the retinal pigment epithelium (PED) in the right eye, treated with photodynamic therapy (PDT) with verteporfin for recent onset of subfoveal choroidal neovascularization (CNV) with chorioretinal anastomoses (CRA). METHODS: Case report. RESULTS: Fluorescein and indocyanine green (ICG) angiography, performed with a Heidelberg scanning laser ophthalmoscope (SLO), demonstrated a predominantly classic foveal choroidal neovascular membrane associated with a PED and 1 one retinal and 2 two venous chorioretinal anastomoses. The left fundus was normal. PDT therapy was performed according to standard techniques. Three PDT treatments were performed at an interval of 3 months. Three months after the second PDT, visual acuity dropped to 20/200, with an enlargement of the neovascular network. One month after the third treatment, visual acuity deteriorated further and the CRA appeared enlarged, associated with a dense fibrotic reaction in the centere of the lesion. CONCLUSIONS: This clinical observation demonstrates that idiopathic serous detachments of the retinal pigment epithelium may represent predisposing changes to CNV development, and in the case CNV is associated with CRA, PDT may be unsuccessful.     

Photodynamic therapy for unilateral idiopathic peripapillary choroidal neovascularization in a child

A 10-year-old girl presented with visual loss in her right eye. Best-corrected visual acuity was 20/50 in the right eye and 20/20 in the left eye. Dilated funduscopic examination revealed a yellowish elevated lesion near the optic disc with macular edema and hemorrhage on the inferotemporal vascular arcade in the right eye. Fluorescein angiography showed a hyperfluorescent lesion consistent with choroidal neovascularization (CNV) and optical coherence tomography (OCT) showed a peripapillary lesion with subretinal fluid elevating the neurosensory retina in the macular area. With a diagnosis of unilateral idiopathic peripapillary CNV, the patient underwent photodynamic therapy (PDT) with verteporfin. At the four month follow-up, visual acuity increased to 20/25 and OCT showed peripapillary scar formation and total resolution of the subretinal fluid. At the one year follow-up, visual acuity and fundus were stable without recurrence of the lesion. PDT for peripapillary CNV in children has not previously been reported. Although it seems to be a favorable treatment option for peripapillary lesions, there is a lack of knowledge about long-term follow-up in pediatric cases.     

Photodynamic therapy outcomes in a case of macular choroidal neovascularization secondary to Candida endophthalmitis

PURPOSE: To evaluate the effects on visual function and choroidal neovascularization (CNV) progression in a case of subretinal CNV due to Candida endophthalmitis treated with a combination of photodynamic therapy (PDT) and drugs. METHODS: A 28-year-old one-eyed woman with CNV in the right eye came to our observation. The CNV developed as a consequence of Candida endophthalmitis. The CNV was treated with six PDT treatments with verteporfin in association with systemic steroid therapy with prednisone (100 mg/day to reduce) and fluconazole (800 mg/day to reduce). Visual acuity (VA) was assessed in pre-PDT conditions and after six PDT treatments (24 months of follow-up). RESULTS: Pre-PDT VA was 20/125; after 24 months of follow-up, six PDT re-treatments, and pharmacologic therapy, VA was stabilized at 20/100. CONCLUSIONS: In our case, associated PDT and drug therapies were safe and useful to maintain VA and to arrest CNV progression in the foveal region after 2 years of follow-up.     

Evaluation of the new photosensitizer Stakel (WST-11) for photodynamic choroidal vessel occlusion in rabbit and rat eyes

PURPOSE: To evaluate the photodynamic potential of a new hydrosoluble photosensitizer (WST-11, Stakel; Steba Biotech, Toussus-Le-Noble, France), for use in occlusion of normal choroidal vessels in the rabbit eye and CNV (choroidal neovascularization) in the rat eye. METHODS: Occlusive and nonocclusive parameters of Stakel and verteporfin photodynamic therapy (PDT) were investigated in pigmented rabbits. Eyes were followed by fluorescein angiography (FA) and histology at various intervals after PDT. RESULTS: When occlusive parameters (fluence of 50 J/cm(2), 5 mg/kg drug dose and DLI [distance to light illumination] of 1 minute) were used, Stakel PDT was efficient immediately after treatment without associated structural damage of the RPE and retina overlying the treated choroid in the rabbit eye. Two days later, total occlusion of the choriocapillaries was seen in 100% of the treated eyes, along with accompanying histologic structural changes in the overlying retina. When the occlusive parameters (fluence, 100 J/cm2; drug dose, 12 mg/m2; and DLI, 5 minutes) of verteporfin PDT were used, occlusion of the choriocapillaries was observed in 89% of the treated eyes. Histology performed immediately after treatment demonstrated structural damage of the overlying retina and RPE layer. Weaker, nonocclusive Stakel PDT parameters (25 J/cm2, 5 mg/kg, and DLI of 10 minutes) did not induce choriocapillary occlusion or retinal lesions on FA or histology. Weaker, nonocclusive verteporfin PDT parameters (10 J/cm2, 0.2 mg/kg, and DLI of 5 minutes) did not induce choriocapillary occlusion. However, histology of these eyes showed the presence of damage in the retinal and choroidal tissues. Moreover, preliminary results indicate that selective CNV occlusion can be achieved with Stakel PDT in the rat eye. CONCLUSIONS: Unlike verteporfin PDT, Stakel PDT does not cause direct damage to the RPE cell layer or retina. These observations indicate that Stakel PDT may have a high potential for beneficial therapeutic outcomes in treatment of AMD.     

Sequential combined therapy for treatment of choroidal neovascularization in age-related macular degeneration: photodynamic therapy and thermal laser photocoagulation

PURPOSE: To analyze the results achieved after treating extrafoveal choroidal neovascularization (CNV) recurrences with thermal laser photocoagulation (TLP) in patients who had previously undergone photodynamic therapy (PDT). PATIENTS AND METHODS: Seven eyes (seven patients: four women and three men) that had been initially treated by PDT for CNV associated with age-related macular degeneration (ARMD) and then developed extrafoveal recurrences were treated with green argon TLP. All patients underwent a complete ophthalmologic evaluation and fluorescein angiography. Mean age was 74.4 +/- 4.4 years (range, 69 to 81 years). Five right eyes and two left eyes were treated. Mean follow-up after the beginning of the treatment with PDT was 18.0 +/- 3.5 months (range, 11 to 22 months). Follow-up after TLP was 6.8 +/- 1.0 months (range, 6 to 8 months). RESULTS: Mean best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) before treatment was 20/150 (range 20/400 to 20/40). After PDT it was 20/281 (range, 20/400 to 20/80), with a mean of 3.1 +/- 0.8 treatments (range, 2 to 4). After TLP, BCVA was 20/233 (range, 20/400 to 20/80), with no statistically significant difference from BCVA after PDT (p = 0.06, Student's t-test paired data). In all cases total closure of CNV was achieved after only one session of TLP. CONCLUSIONS: TLP could be helpful in association with multiple sessions of PDT in order to achieve a complete closure of subfoveal CNV secondary to ARMD. Further studies are required to confirm our findings.     

Submacular surgery for choroidal neovascularization secondary to optic nerve drusen

PURPOSE: To report a case of bilateral choroidal neovascularization (CNV) secondary to optic nerve drusen (OND). DESIGN: Interventional case report. METHODS: A 9-year-old girl presented with peripapillary CNV of the right eye and peripapillary and subfoveal CNV of the left eye secondary to OND. The CNV was excised with submacular surgery in the left eye. RESULTS: Visual acuity increased from 0.05 to 0.3 in the left eye after submacular surgery and did not change from 0.3 in the right eye during 6-month follow-up. Partial retinal pigment epithelial atrophy, but no recurrence of CNV, was observed after CNV excision. CONCLUSION: Subfoveal CNV is an uncommon complication of OND and surgical excision may be useful in selected cases.     

Photodynamic therapy with verteporfin for choroidal neovascularization in patients with angioid streaks

PURPOSE: To evaluate the functional and anatomic outcomes of photodynamic therapy (PDT) for choroidal neovascularization (CNV) in patients with angioid streaks. METHODS: The authors retrospectively evaluated 6 consecutive patients (6 eyes) with CNV secondary to angioid streaks. All patients were treated with standard PDT with verteporfin protocol. Standardized protocol refraction, visual acuity testing, ophthalmologic examination, color photographs, fluorescein angiograms and indocyanin angiograms were used to evaluate the results of PDT with verteporfin. Main outcome measures were visual acuity and CNV size. RESULTS: Their mean age was 61.3+/-5.50 years (range, 53-68 years). Follow-up time ranged from 12 to 38 months with mean of 20.5+/-10.91 months. The mean visual acuity at baseline was 20/100 (range 20/25-20/500), and the mean visual acuity at the last examination was 20/320(range 20/125-counting finger). The mean greatest linear dimension (GLD) at baseline was 2400+/-766.81 micrometer, and the mean GLD at the last examination was 3483+/-444.59 micrometer. CONCLUSIONS: PDT for CNV associated with angioid streaks seemed to slow down but not prevent the progression of the disease and associated visual loss.     

Photodynamic therapy for retinal capillary hemangioma

Purpose

To describe the results of photodynamic therapy (PDT) for juxtapapillary and peripheral retinal capillary hemangioma (RCH).

Patients and methods

Interventional case series of four eyes (four patients) with juxtapapillary RCH and one eye (one patient) with peripheral RCH. Two eyes with juxtapapillary RCH had received two sessions of full-fluence, double-duration PDT; whereas other two eyes had received single session of half-fluence, single-duration PDT. The peripheral RCH was treated with a single session of full-fluence, single-duration PDT.

Results

Two patients had von Hippel–Lindau disease. Follow-up duration ranged from 4 months to 1 year. Pre-PDT visual acuity (VA) ranged from 20/200 to HM (juxtapapillary RCH) and 20/100 (peripheral RCH). Among the eyes with juxtapapillary RCH, tumor regression with partial resolution of macular edema was noted in two eyes (one eye each with half-fluence and full-fluence PDT), whereas two eyes had no change in tumor size with persistent macular edema. VA remained stable in three eyes and declined in one eye. In an eye with peripheral RCH, regression of tumor and macular edema with VA improvement was noted. Post-PDT complications included epiretinal membrane (one eye) and transient exudative retinal detachment (one eye).

Conclusion

PDT can be effective in reducing macular edema associated with RCH but this does not always correspond with an improvement in VA especially for juxtapapillary tumors.     

Photodynamic therapy of idiopathic and inflammatory choroidal neovascularization in young adults

PURPOSE: To evaluate the treatment of subfoveal choroidal neovascularization (CNV) using photodynamic therapy (PDT) with verteporfin (Visudyne; Novartis, Duluth, GA) in young adults. DESIGN: Retrospective noncomparative interventional case series. PARTICIPANTS: Nineteen eyes of 17 patients with classic, subfoveal CNV treated with PDT using verteporfin, excluding eyes with CNV secondary to age-related macular degeneration, angioid streaks, and myopia. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Snellen visual acuity before and after PDT. RESULTS: Nineteen eyes were followed an average of 12.8 months (range, 4-33 months) after PDT. Before treatment, visual acuity measured > or = 20/40 in 0 eyes (0.0%), < 20/40 to > 20/200 in 11 eyes (57.9%), and < or =20/200 in 8 eyes (42.1%). After treatment, visual acuity measured > or =20/40 in four eyes (21.1%), < 20/40 to > 20/200 in eight eyes (42.1%), and < or =20/200 in seven eyes (36.8%). Six eyes (31.6%) underwent retreatment, with only two eyes retreated twice. Four eyes underwent eventual surgical removal of the CNV after PDT. CONCLUSIONS: Photodynamic therapy seems to be useful in stabilizing and improving visual acuity in young adults with subfoveal CNV secondary to idiopathic and inflammatory etiologies.     

Verteporfin photodynamic therapy for extrafoveal choroidal neovascularisation secondary to age-related macular degeneration

PURPOSE: To report the results of verteporfin photodynamic therapy (PDT) of extrafoveal predominantly classic choroidal neovascularisation (CNV) secondary to age-related macular degeneration (AMD). METHODS: In this retrospective study 20 consecutive patients (20 eyes) undergoing verteporfin PDT for extrafoveal predominantly classic CNV in AMD were examined. Colour photography of the fundus, fluorescein angiography and complete ophthalmic examination, including visual acuity assessment with ETDRS charts, were performed before treatment and at 3-month intervals thereafter. The primary outcome criterion was the change in visual acuity. The secondary outcome criterion was the extension of the CNV beneath the centre of the fovea during the follow-up period. RESULTS: Mean follow-up time of the patients was 24.2 months (range 12 to 58 months). Visual acuity at baseline varied from 20/200 to 20/20 (mean 20/50+/-2.3 lines). Final visual acuity ranged from 20/1000 to 20/20 (mean 20/200+/-5.1 lines) (P<0.001). In 85% (17/20) of the eyes visual acuity worsened. Visual acuity improved in 15% (3/20) of the eyes. During the course of the follow-up period, subfoveal extension of the CNV was detected in 80% (16/20) of the eyes. CONCLUSION: In 85% of the eyes with extrafoveal predominantly classic CNV secondary to AMD, visual acuity worsened after verteporfin PDT in an average follow-up time of 24 months. Subfoveal CNV was found in 80% of the eyes during follow-up. Even though verteporfin PDT can preserve visual acuity in selected cases, deterioration was seen in the majority of the patients.     

Photodynamic therapy for bilateral idiopathic detachment of the RPE

BACKGROUND: A bilateral monofocal detachment of the pigment epithelium (RPE) without any signs of ARMD or other retinal pathology represents a therapeutic challenge. PATIENT: An otherwise healthy 51-year-old woman presented first with a monocular, later a binocular decrease of visual acuity and metamorphopsia. Optical coherence tomography (OCT) showed a bilateral dome-shaped detachment of the RPE. Pooling beneath the detachment was documented using fluorescein angiography. A choroidal neovascularisation could be excluded by means of indocyanine green angiography (ICG). Due to the binocular decrease of visual acuity from 20/20 to 20/63 on the right eye and 20/100 on the left eye in spite of intensive systemic acetazolamide therapy both eyes were treated with photodynamic therapy (PDT) using verteporfin. During monthly controls, the visual acuity increased up to 20/20 on the right eye and 20/25 on the left eye. Metamorphopsia was also reduced. CONCLUSION: An idiopathic detachment of the pigment epithelium can effectively be treated using PDT whereas the underlying pathology remains unclear.     

Combination photodynamic therapy and bevacizumab for choroidal neovascularization associated with toxoplasmosis

A 14-year-old girl presenting with visual loss in both eyes was diagnosed to have healed toxoplasma retinochoroiditis in the right eye with active choroidal neovascularization (CNV) secondary to toxoplasmosis in the left. She underwent combination photodynamic therapy (PDT) and intravitreal bevacizumab as primary treatment. PDT was performed as per the 'Treatment of Age-related Macular Degeneration by Photodynamic therapy' study protocol and was followed by intravitreal bevacizumab after 2 days. CNV regressed at 8 weeks of follow-up and remained stable at 8 months of follow-up. The initial visual acuity improved from 20/120 to 20/30. Combination therapy with PDT and intravitreal bevacizumab appears to be effective in the treatment of CNV secondary to toxoplasma retinochoroiditis.     

Photodynamic therapy with delayed light application for the treatment of bilateral subfoveal choroidal neovascularization in age-related macular degeneration

PURPOSE: To determine if photodynamic therapy (PDT) with delayed light application at 17 minutes after the start of infusion was effective in the second eyes of patients with bilateral subfoveal classic choroidal neovascularization (CNV) secondary to age-related macular degeneration (AMD). METHODS: The records of 20 patients with bilateral subfoveal classic CNV secondary to AMD who were treated with bilateral PDT in the same session were reviewed. Treatment for the second eye of patients was begun 120 seconds after termination of treatment for the first eye. This time interval was necessary for applying the contact lens and entering the new laser parameters, and it was kept constant in all cases. Best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA), ophthalmologic examinations, fluorescein and indocyanine angiograms were used to evaluate the results of PDT. Follow-up time ranged from 6 to 12 months with a mean of 8.7 (+/-2.1) months. RESULTS: Mean (+/-SD) treatment sessions were 1.7 (+/-0.6) in first eyes and 1.7 (+/-0.5) in second eyes. Among first eyes, BCVA improved in 7 of the 20 eyes (35%); stabilized in 7 eyes (35%); and worsened in 6 eyes (30%). Among second eyes, BCVA improved in 5 of the 20 eyes (25%); stabilized in 8 eyes (40%); and worsened in 7 eyes (35%). CONCLUSIONS: In most cases, bilateral PDT in the same session achieved cessation of fluorescein leakage from CNV without loss of vision or growth of CNV in the second eyes of patients with bilateral subfoveal classic CNV secondary to AMD. Further studies with a larger number of patients and longer follow-up are necessary to confirm whether bilateral PDT in the same session is beneficial for bilateral subfoveal classic CNV related to AMD.     

Photodynamic therapy in subfoveal and juxtafoveal idiopathic and postinflammatory choroidal neovascularization

PURPOSE: To evaluate the efficacy of photodynamic therapy (PDT) in the treatment of idiopathic and inflammatory choroidal neovascularization (CNV). METHODS: This study represents a non-randomized, multicentre, interventional case series. Sixteen eyes of 16 patients with classic or predominantly classic sub- and juxtafoveal idiopathic CNV and 26 eyes of 24 patients with classic or predominantly classic sub- and juxtafoveal CNV secondary to inflammatory conditions were treated with PDT with verteporfin. Best corrected visual acuity (BCVA) before and after PDT, the number of lines gained or lost and the number of PDT sessions were analysed. RESULTS: The mean follow-up periods were 20 months (SD 11) and 16 months (SD 9) for the idiopathic and inflammatory groups, respectively. The mean BCVA in idiopathic CNV changed from 0.63 logMAR (SD 0.37) before treatment to 0.82 logMAR (SD 0.43) after treatment (p = 0.16; Student's t-test paired data). The number of treatments performed averaged 2.1 (range 1-4, SD 0.9). The mean BCVA in postinflammatory CNV changed from 0.60 logMAR (SD 0.4) before treatment to 0.57 logMAR (SD 0.6) after treatment (p = 0.79; Student's t-test paired data). The mean number of treatments was 2.6 (range 1-6, SD 1.2). CONCLUSIONS: Photodynamic therapy with verteporfin may be useful in stabilizing BCVA in patients with sub- and juxtafoveal postinflammatory CNV and subfoveal idiopathic CNV.