title: Grid laser treatment of occult choroidal neovascularization in age related macular degeneration.
abstract: Laser photocoagulation treatment of occult choroidal neovascularization (CNV) in age related macular degeneration has been up to now discouraging. We report a randomized clinical trial comparing 'grid' laser treatment versus the natural course in 24 eyes with this kind of neovascularization. In 12 eyes a low energy scatter photocoagulation was applied to the areas of presumed CNV and abnormal retinal pigment epithelium, sparing the fovea. The follow-up ranged from 1 to 3 years. At the three months follow-up visit, the subretinal exudation appeared reduced in 40% of the treated eyes and in none of the control eyes. During the period of follow-up the occult CNV turned to classic CNV in 4 treated and in 4 untreated eyes. At the last examination (average follow-up 18 months), anatomical and functional conditions were not significantly different in the two groups. Our data fail to show a beneficial long-term effect of grid laser treatment for occult CNV; no iatrogenic complications were seen in our series.
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, University of Genoa, Italy.
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Cardillo Piccolino
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Ghiglione
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Allegri
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002829:Choroid / Q000098:blood supply* / Q000601:surgery; D005260:Female; D005451:Fluorescein Angiography; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D005654:Fundus Oculi; D006801:Humans; D017075:Laser Coagulation; D008268:Macular Degeneration / Q000601:surgery*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009389:Neovascularization, Pathologic / Q000601:surgery*; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014792:Visual Acuity