Perifoveal laser treatment for subfoveal choroidal neovascularization in age-related macular degeneration.

The management of subfoveal choroidal neovascularization (CNV) secondary to age-related macular degeneration presents a major therapeutic dilemma. No treatment may lead to severe visual loss, and direct laser treatment to the entire subfoveal lesion results in acute loss of visual acuity. Encouraging results have been described with a foveal-sparing laser technique for subfoveal CNV. The authors performed perifoveal confluent laser treatment on a relatively well-defined occult CNV, sparing the foveal avascular zone. One month after treatment, the visual acuity had improved from 20/400 to 20/30. At 24 months, the visual acuity was 20/40 with no recurrence. Confluent perifoveal laser treatment for subfoveal CNV may be useful in preserving central visual acuity in selected patients.