title: Effects of verteporfin therapy on contrast on sensitivity: Results From the Treatment of Age-Related Macular Degeneration With Photodynamic Therapy (TAP) investigation-TAP report No 4.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  In the Treatment of Age-Related Macular Degeneration With Photodynamic Therapy (TAP) investigation, verteporfin therapy reduced the risk of at least moderate vision loss (defined as a loss of at least 15 letters of visual acuity) in patients with subfoveal choroidal neovascularization (CNV) secondary to age-related macular degeneration (ARMD). This report presents detailed analyses of 24-month contrast sensitivity outcomes in these patients.
  
  
  METHODS
  The patients included in the TAP investigation had subfoveal CNV secondary to ARMD and received verteporfin therapy (n = 402) or placebo (n = 207) at the first visit, with retreatment at each 3-month follow-up visit if angiography revealed fluorescein leakage from CNV. Contrast sensitivity was determined at each visit using a Pelli-Robson chart.
  
  
  RESULTS
  At the month 24 examination, verteporfin-treated patients were less likely to lose at least 6 or 15 letters of contrast sensitivity than placebo-treated patients (86 [21%] versus 94 [45%], and 27 [7%] versus 24 [12%], respectively; P < 0.05 for both comparisons). The superiority of verteporfin therapy over placebo was greater in patients with predominantly classic CNV at baseline, although verteporfin-treated patients with minimally classic CNV also had better contrast sensitivity outcomes.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Consistent with visual acuity outcomes, verteporfin therapy reduced the risk of a clinically relevant loss of contrast sensitivity in the total study population, with the greatest effect in patients with predominantly classic subfoveal CNV secondary to ARMD. Verteporfin-treated patients with minimally classic CNV also had better contrast sensitivity outcomes than patients who received placebo. Given the association between contrast sensitivity and visual disability, the beneficial effects of verteporfin therapy on contrast sensitivity outcomes are expected to have a favorable impact on patients' daily activities.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Ophthalmology, University College London, United Kingdom. g.rubin@ucl.ac.uk
authors.forename: Gary S
authors.initials: GS
authors.lastname: Rubin
authors.forename: Neil M
authors.initials: NM
authors.lastname: Bressler
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D020256:Choroidal Neovascularization / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology; D015350:Contrast Sensitivity / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008268:Macular Degeneration / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology; D008297:Male; D010778:Photochemotherapy; D017319:Photosensitizing Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D011166:Porphyrins / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000077362:Verteporfin; D014786:Vision Disorders / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D014792:Visual Acuity
chemical_list: D017319:Photosensitizing Agents; D011166:Porphyrins; D000077362:Verteporfin