Transpupillary thermotherapy of occult choroidal neovascularization in age-related macular degeneration.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the efficacy of transpupillary thermotherapy (TTT) in management of occult subfoveal choroidal neovascularization (CNV) in exudative age-related macular degeneration (AMD).


METHODS
Retrospective chart review of eyes that were treated with TTT and had at least 12 weeks of follow-up. Base-line and final ETDRS visual acuity and fluorescein angiography (FA) were compared.


RESULTS
For the 48 eyes which met inclusion criteria, mean pre-operative visual acuity was 20/128 (range: 20/50-20/500). Average follow-up was 27 weeks (range: 12 weeks-55 weeks). At 3 months after treatment, 12 eyes (25%) improved 2 lines or more, 18 eyes (37.5%) had no change or 1 line of visual improvement, and 18 eyes (37.5%) worsened 1 or more lines. No significant adverse event was noted during treatment. Three eyes developed large submacular hemorrhage within 2 months of treatment. Based on clinical examination and FA, 61% of the eyes appeared to have reduction of subretinal fluid compared to pre-operative evaluations.


CONCLUSIONS
Visual acuity was stable or improved in 62.5% of eyes in our series and the treatment was well tolerated. Longer follow up and larger number of patients would be required to evaluate the ultimate benefit of TTT in management of occult CNV due to AMD.
Kim
J E
JE
Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, WI, USA. judykim@mcw.edu
Perkins
S L
SL
Schwiesow
T
T
Connor
T B
TB
Han
D P
DP
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D020256:Choroidal Neovascularization / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy*; D005122:Exudates and Transudates; D005260:Female; D005451:Fluorescein Angiography; D006801:Humans; D006979:Hyperthermia, Induced / Q000379:methods*; D008268:Macular Degeneration / Q000150:complications / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011183:Postoperative Complications; D011680:Pupil; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014792:Visual Acuity / Q000502:physiology