Incidence of laser photocoagulation and photodynamic therapy with verteporfin at a tertiary retinal center.
OBJECTIVE
To examine the influence of photodynamic therapy (PDT) with verteporfin on the indication and frequency of conventional thermal krypton laser photocoagulation in choroidal neovascularization.


METHODS
A retrospective chart review was performed comparing laser indication and frequency 1 year before and 2 years after PDT started to be used routinely following the guidelines of the Treatment of Age-Related Macular Degeneration with Photodynamic Therapy Study Group and the Verteporfin in Photodynamic Therapy Study Group.


RESULTS
Similar frequencies of laser treatment were seen in the year before and during the first year after PDT was commenced (301 [7.1% of all patients] to 281 [6.9%]). In the year thereafter, however, there was a marked decrease in laser treatments (174 [3.9%]). Interestingly, there was a steady increase in the relative frequency of laser treatments of extrafoveal and parapapillary lesions in the years after PDT was commenced (29.2%, year 1; 30.6%, year 2; and 39.6%, year 3).


CONCLUSIONS
PDT has led to a decrease in conventional laser photocoagulation at one large tertiary retinal center in Austria. Moreover, it is our belief that patients are now referred at earlier stages of the disease, which has resulted in a shift in thermal laser indications.
Ergun
Erdem
E
Department of Ophthalmology, University of Vienna Medical School, Waehringer Guertel 18-20, A-1090 Vienna, Austria. edrem.ergun@akh-wien.ac.at
Zawinka
Claudia
C
Stur
Michael
M
D000368:Aged; D020256:Choroidal Neovascularization / Q000628:therapy*; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D017075:Laser Coagulation / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D010778:Photochemotherapy / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D017319:Photosensitizing Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D011166:Porphyrins / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D010818:Practice Patterns, Physicians' / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D000077362:Verteporfin
D017319:Photosensitizing Agents; D011166:Porphyrins; D000077362:Verteporfin