Two years follow-up outcome of verteporfin therapy for subfoveal choroidal neovascularization in pathologic myopia in Indian eyes

Context:

In India, refractive errors are a major cause of treatable blindness. Population surveys in southernIndia have shown prevalence of high myopia to be 4.32-4.54%. Photodynamic therapy (PDT) for choroidalneovascularization (CNV) caused by pathologic myopia is beneficial.

Aims:

To report the 24 months outcome of PDT with verteporfin for subfoveal CNV caused by pathologicmyopia in Indian eyes

Settings and Design:

Prospective case series

Materials and Methods:

Review of prospectively collected data of Indian patients with pathologic myopiaand subfoveal CNV treated with verteporfin therapy between 2001 and 2005 using standard regimen forPDT.

Statistical Analysis Used:

Wilcoxon signed rank test was used to see the difference in the mean letter acuityat intervals compared to baseline. Kaplan Meier Survival analysis was done to estimate the success rate ofverteporfin therapy for CNV caused by pathologic myopia.

Results:

Fifteen patients (15 eyes) treated with standard fluence PDT and who had completed 24 monthsfollow-up were analyzed. The mean spherical equivalent was -13.36 ± 5.88 diopter. Five out of 15 eyes in sixmonths, three out of 15 eyes at 12 months and four eyes out of 15 at 24 months had improved vision by > 10letters. The mean number of treatment session was 2.2 in two years.

Conclusions:

PDT with verteporfin for subfoveal CNV caused by pathologic myopia in Indian eyes iseffective.