Photodynamic therapy for retinal angiomatous proliferations and pigment epithelium detachment

PURPOSE: To evaluate results of photodynamic therapy (PDT) with verteporfin for subfoveal neovascular agerelated macular degeneration (ARMD) with retinal angiomatous proliferation (RAP) and pigment epithelial detachment (PED). DESIGN: Interventional case series. METHODS: Thirteen eyes (11 stage 2 and 2 stage 3 RAP) underwent PDT. Best,corrected visual acuity (BCVA), fluorescein and indocyanine,green angiography were per, formed to evaluate the outcome. RESULTS: After 13.5 +/- 2.5 months and 1.7 +/- 0.4 treatments, mean BCVA decreased from 20/73 to 20/174 (P =.04). Occlusion of RAP and flattening of PED was observed in three eyes, and persistence of PED in six. Two eyes deteriorated to disciform lesions, one developed hemorrhagic PED, and one evolved toward stage 3 RAP. Three eyes, with PED exceeding 50% of the entire lesion, developed retinal pigment epithelium tear. CONCLUSIONS: PDT might prove effective for neovascular ARMD with RAP and small PED, whereas it might cause acute retinal pigment epithelium tear for RAP with PED exceeding 50% of the lesion. (C) 2004 by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.