Prognostic factors influencing visual outcome of photodynamic therapy for subfoveal choroidal neovascularization in pathologic myopia.

PURPOSE

To examine the influence of age, lesion size, degree of myopia, and baseline visual acuity on the visual outcome of patients with pathologic myopia and choroidal neovascularization (CNV) who received photodynamic therapy (PDT) with verteporfin.

DESIGN

Retrospective, noncomparative consecutive case series.

METHODS

Forty-three eyes of 41 patients were treated in a two-year time span; 36 eyes of 36 patients who had received PDT for CNV due to pathologic myopia were examined for the above-mentioned factors 24 months after first treatment. All patients had been treated according to the Verteporfin in Photodynamic Therapy (VIP) study criteria. Patients were examined in two- to three-month intervals with Snellen visual acuity, biomicroscopy, and fluorescein angiography.

RESULTS

Baseline visual acuity and age were both prognostic factors for visual outcome (P =.0097, P =.0055). Lesion size (greatest linear dimension) at baseline, refractive error, or the number of treatments had no influence on the outcome.

CONCLUSION

Age and baseline visual acuity have an effect on visual outcome in patients receiving PDT due to CNV secondary to pathologic myopia. Younger patients and patients with higher baseline visual acuity had a better treatment outcome.