Transpupillary thermotherapy with indocyanine green dye enhancement for the treatment of occult subfoveal choroidal neovascularization in age-related macular degeneration.
Transpupillary thermotherapy (TTT) with indocyanine green (ICG) dye enhancement (TTT+) and TTT alone were compared for safety and effectiveness as a treatment of occult subfoveal choroidal neovascularization in age-related macular degeneration.



Twenty-one patients were randomized to receive TTT (12 eyes) or TTT+ (9 eyes) and observed for at least 6 months. ETDRS visual acuity and fluorescein and ICG angiography were obtained every 3 months.



The median initial visual acuity was 20/80 in the TTT group and 20/100 in the TTT+ group. At 6 months, loss of less than 3 lines of visual acuity was present in 7 of 12 eyes (58%) in the TTT group and 5 of 9 eyes (56%) in the TTT+ group. At the final examination, there was no active choroidal neovascularization exudation in 6 of 12 eyes (50%) in the TTT group and 5 of 9 eyes (56%) in the TTT+ group. The median final visual acuity was 20/125 in the TTT group and 20/160 in the TTT+ group. Ocular or systemic complications were not encountered in either group.



TTT with ICG dye enhancement was as safe and effective as TTT alone in this study. However, modifications of treatment protocol would be needed to see whether there is any advantage to using ICG dye enhancement.
Kim
Judy E
JE
The Eye Institute, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee 53226, USA.
Shah
Kekul B
KB
Han
Dennis P
DP
Connor
Thomas B
TB
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D020256:Choroidal Neovascularization / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy*; D004396:Coloring Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D005451:Fluorescein Angiography; D005584:Fovea Centralis; D006801:Humans; D006979:Hyperthermia, Induced / Q000379:methods*; D007208:Indocyanine Green / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D008268:Macular Degeneration / Q000150:complications*; D008875:Middle Aged; D011680:Pupil; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014792:Visual Acuity / Q000502:physiology
D004396:Coloring Agents; D007208:Indocyanine Green