title: A 5-year follow-up study for distance visual acuity after low dose radiation on subfoveal choroidal neovascularization in age-related macular degeneration.
abstract: In a prospective study with a 5-year follow-up, we assessed the effect of a single series of low-dose radiation on the distance visual acuity in eyes with angiographically confirmed subfoveal choroidal neovascularization (CNV) in age-related macular degeneration (ARMD). The posterior pole of 12 eyes was treated with 5 Gy (4 x 1.25 Gy), and 34 eyes treated with 8 Gy (4 x 2 Gy). The best corrected distance visual acuity was measured at the time of treatment, and annually thereafter for 5 years. The study obtained complete follow-up for 11 patients in the 5-Gy group (nine classic, two occult CNVs), and 29 patients in the 8-Gy group (12 classic, 17 occult CNVs). At baseline, the mean distance visual acuity of the treated eyes was 0.16 (20/125) in the 5-Gy group, and 0.2 (20/100) in the 8-Gy group. Five years later, an average loss of 3.2 lines was present in the 5-Gy group, and 4 lines in the 8-Gy group. After 5 years, an average loss of 2 lines was found in a control group consisting of 18 second eyes with low stage dry ARMD, with a mean distance visual acuity of 0.5 (20/40) at baseline. Statistical analyses with Wilcoxon and Mann-Whitney U-tests showed that a single series of low dose radiation with either 5 Gy or 8 Gy was not able to stabilize the distance visual acuity of eyes with subfoveal CNV in ARMD during a 5-year follow-up.
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, Kantonsspital St. Gallen, Switzerland. valmaggia@freesurf.ch
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Valmaggia
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Ries
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Ballinari
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D020256:Choroidal Neovascularization / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000532:radiotherapy*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D005584:Fovea Centralis / Q000528:radiation effects*; D006801:Humans; D008268:Macular Degeneration / Q000150:complications* / Q000503:physiopathology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D014792:Visual Acuity / Q000502:physiology*