[Low power transpupillary thermotherapy of choroidal neovascularization].
OBJECTIVE
To assess the effectiveness of low power transpupillary thermotherapy (TTT) for choroidal neovascularization (CNV).


METHODS
We performed TTT on 55 eyes of 55 patients with subretinal CNV between April 2001 and December 2002, and observed them after therapy for more than 6 months. The laser power ranged from 80 to 320 mW when the spot size was 3 mm. We evaluated visual acuity, subretinal fluid (SRF), and CNV size.


RESULTS
Visual acuity improved by 2 lines or more in 16 eyes (29%), was unchanged in 19 eyes (35%), and decreased in 20 eyes (36%). SRF decreased in 30 eyes (54%), was unchanged in 13 eyes (24%), and increased in 12 eyes (22%). CNV diminished in 33 eyes (60%), was unchanged in 10 eyes (18%), and became enlarged in 12 eyes (22%).


CONCLUSIONS
Low power TTT can be an effective treatment for subgroups of patients with subfoveal CNV.
Tsujimoto
Junko
J
Department of Ophthalmology, Kyoto Prefectural University of Medicine, Japan.
Kamei
Motohiro
M
Yasuhara
Toru
T
Tei
Mamoru
M
Ouchi
Masayuki
M
Komori
Hideki
H
Yamada
Tomoyuki
T
Yoneda
Kazuhito
K
Kinoshita
Shigeru
S
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D020256:Choroidal Neovascularization / Q000628:therapy*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006979:Hyperthermia, Induced / Q000379:methods*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D014792:Visual Acuity