Mittra Robert A, Singerman Lawrence J
VitreoRetinal Surgery, Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA.
Optom Vis Sci. 2002 Apr;79(4):218-24. doi: 10.1097/00006324-200204000-00008.
Choroidal neovascularization (CNV) secondary to age-related macular degeneration (AMD) can cause rapid and severe central vision loss in many older people. Until recently, the only treatment proven beneficial was thermal laser photocoagulation, which was applicable to only a small subset of patients. Furthermore, the thermal laser damaged the retina overlying the CNV, which is especially problematic for lesions involving the foveal center. Photodynamic therapy is a new treatment consisting of intravenous infusion of a drug that is then activated by a low-energy laser, causing damage to CNV. Photodynamic therapy with verteporfin (Visudyne, Novartis AG) has been shown to reduce the risk of moderate and severe vision loss in patients with predominantly classic subfoveal CNV secondary to AMD. With the advent of verteporfin therapy, eye care providers will play an increasingly important role in managing patients with AMD, especially in the early detection and rapid referral of appropriate cases.
年龄相关性黄斑变性（AMD）继发的脉络膜新生血管（CNV）可导致许多老年人迅速且严重的中心视力丧失。直到最近，唯一被证实有益的治疗方法是热激光光凝，但它仅适用于一小部分患者。此外，热激光会损伤CNV上方的视网膜，这对于累及黄斑中心的病变来说尤其成问题。光动力疗法是一种新的治疗方法，包括静脉输注一种药物，然后用低能量激光激活该药物，从而损伤CNV。已证明使用维替泊芬（Visudyne，诺华公司）进行光动力疗法可降低主要为典型性黄斑下CNV继发于AMD的患者发生中度和重度视力丧失的风险。随着维替泊芬疗法的出现，眼科护理人员在管理AMD患者方面将发挥越来越重要的作用，尤其是在早期检测和快速转诊合适病例方面。
