Selective photodynamic therapy for neovascular age-related macular degeneration with polypoidal choroidal neovascularization.

PURPOSE

To evaluate the efficacy of selective treatment with indocyanine green (ICG) angiography-guided photodynamic therapy (PDT) with verteporfin for polypoidal choroidal vasculopathy (PCV).

METHODS

In this retrospective consecutive series, 30 eyes of 30 patients with PCV were included. Complete ocular examination, digital fluorescein angiography (FA), ICG angiography, and optical coherence tomography were performed at baseline and at standard intervals thereafter. ICG angiography-guided PDT was performed on all eyes. Only the area of the active PCV or "hot spot" evident on the ICG angiogram was treated. A spot size was chosen to cover the active neovascular lesion with a 200-mum border. Retreatment was performed when angiography revealed a recurrent lesion.

RESULTS

Thirty eyes with PCV were treated and followed for 1 year. Mean age of the patients was 75 years (range, 55-90 years). These patients were all classified as having occult choroidal neovascularization (CNV) with FA and polypoidal CNV with ICG angiography. Improvement of vision (>or=3 lines) was achieved in 15 eyes (50%). Nine eyes had stable vision (30%), and 6 eyes (20%) had a decrease in vision (>or=3 lines). Repeated treatment was required in 15 eyes (50%) for an average of 2.2 treatments in 1 year.

CONCLUSION

This study indicates that stabilization or improvement of vision is achieved in most eyes (80%) with neovascular AMD from PCV after selected ICG angiography-guided PDT. These outcomes compare very favorably with those in previous reports on the treatment of occult CNV. Reduced collateral damage to the choriocapillaris and reduced upregulation of vascular endothelial growth factor are presumed to be the explanation for this apparently better outcome. Further studies with longer follow-up are warranted to investigate the long-term efficacy in these conditions.