A prospective study of visual function and quality of life following PDT in patients with wet age related macular degeneration.
OBJECTIVE
(1) A prospective study to assess visual function measures and quality of life (QoL) in patients with wet age related macular degeneration (AMD) treated with photodynamic therapy (PDT). (2) To assess if PDT prevents severe visual loss (loss of six or more lines of distance visual acuity) in the treated eye.


METHODS
48 of 51 recruited patients with predominantly classic subfoveal choroidal neovascularisation (CNV) secondary AMD who were treated with PDT were followed up for 1 year. Assessment included distance and near visual acuity, contrast sensitivity, vision related quality of life and fluorescein angiography. Photodynamic therapy using Visudyne was carried out according to standard protocol. Patients were followed up every 3 months and treatment repeated if there was significant leakage from CNV.


RESULTS
At the 12 month follow up, 71% (n = 34) of the patients lost less than three lines of best corrected distance visual acuity. Although there were significant decreases in some of the QoL items tested, patients were significantly less anxious and more independent outdoors at the 12 month follow up.


CONCLUSIONS
This study is in keeping with published literature with PDT preventing severe visual loss in two thirds of treated patients with predominantly classic CNV.
Armbrecht
A M
AM
Princess Alexandra Eye Pavilion, Chalmers Street, Edinburgh EH3 9HA, UK. amarmbrecht@yahoo.com
Aspinall
P A
PA
Dhillon
B
B
D000203:Activities of Daily Living; D000339:Affect; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D020256:Choroidal Neovascularization / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000534:rehabilitation; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008268:Macular Degeneration / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000534:rehabilitation; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010778:Photochemotherapy; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014792:Visual Acuity