title: Photodynamic therapy of subfoveal recurrences after laser photocoagulation of extrafoveal choroidal neovascularization in pathologic myopia.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Photodynamic therapy with verteporfin (Visudyne; Novartis, Bülach, Switzerland) has been proposed for the treatment of subfoveal choroidal neovascularization secondary to pathologic myopia. We retrospectively evaluated the effects of verteporfin therapy of subfoveal recurrences of extrafoveal myopic CNV previously treated with thermal laser photocoagulation.
  
  
  METHODS
  Twelve eyes, previously treated with thermal laser photocoagulation for extrafoveal choroidal neovascularization, received photodynamic therapy with verteporfin for subfoveal recurrence of choroidal new vessels. Thirteen eyes that did not receive photodynamic therapy served as control group. Vision and fluorescein angiography outcomes were analyzed on all study visits (every 3 months) through month 12. Visual acuity was measured in Snellen lines.
  
  
  RESULTS
  On average, at the month 12 examination the verteporfin-treated group had gained 2 lines and the untreated group had lost 1 line of vision. Eleven eyes of the verteporfin-treated group compared with nine eyes of the untreated group lost fewer than 3 lines of vision, including four eyes versus none improving at least 1 line of vision.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Photodynamic therapy with verteporfin might increase the chance of stabilizing or improving vision in patients with subfoveal recurrences of extrafoveal myopic CNV previously treated with thermal laser photocoagulation. A prospective, randomized study on larger series of patients is mandatory.
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, University of Udine, Viale Venezia, 410, 33100 , Udine, Italy. francesco.bandello@dsc.uniud.it.
authors.forename: Francesco
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Bandello
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, University of Udine, Viale Venezia, 410, 33100 , Udine, Italy.
authors.forename: Paolo
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Lanzetta
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, University of Trieste, Trieste, Italy.
authors.forename: Maurizio
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Battaglia Parodi
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, University of Udine, Viale Venezia, 410, 33100 , Udine, Italy.
authors.forename: Derri
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Roman-Pognuz
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, University of Trieste, Trieste, Italy.
authors.forename: Sandro
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Saviano
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, University of Trieste, Trieste, Italy.
authors.forename: Giuseppe
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Ravalico
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002829:Choroid / Q000098:blood supply*; D005260:Female; D005451:Fluorescein Angiography; D005584:Fovea Centralis; D006801:Humans; D017075:Laser Coagulation; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009216:Myopia / Q000150:complications*; D009389:Neovascularization, Pathologic / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000209:etiology / Q000601:surgery*; D010778:Photochemotherapy; D017319:Photosensitizing Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D011166:Porphyrins / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D012008:Recurrence; D019233:Retreatment; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D000077362:Verteporfin; D014792:Visual Acuity
chemical_list: D017319:Photosensitizing Agents; D011166:Porphyrins; D000077362:Verteporfin