Clinical effects of photodynamic therapy with Verteporfin for age-related macular degeneration 1: three-month results

PURPOSE: To evaluate the 3-month effects after one-time photodynamic therapy (PDT) for subfoveal choroidal neovascularization (CNV) in age-related macular degeneration (AMD). SUBJECTS AND METHODS: The subjects were 122 patients with subfoveal CNV due to AMD detected by fluorescein angiography (FA). FA, indocyanine-green angiography (IA), and the examination of visual acuity were done before and 3 months after PDT. The diameter of CNV in FA was compared, and ophthalmological examination before the treatment determined whether there were any factors associated with a reduction or suppression of CNV. RESULTS: 3 months after PDT, 89 eyes had a significant (p < 0.001) reduction of CNV (41 eyes had blockage of CNV). In case of polypoidal choroidal vasculopathy (PCV) detected by IA, CNV was significantly reduced compared with the effects of other types of therapy (p = 0.032). Moreover, CNV was blocked significantly when fibrin tissue was present on a part of CNV before treatment (p = 0.026). Visual acuity was maintained or improved in 96 eyes. CONCLUSION: One-time PDT was effective in reducing or suppressing CNV as confirmed by FA.