Photodynamic therapy with verteporfin for subfoveal choroidal neovascularization secondary to pathologic myopia: long-term study.
OBJECTIVE
To assess the safety and effectiveness of photodynamic therapy (PDT) with verteporfin for subfoveal choroidal neovascularization (CNV) secondary to pathologic myopia (PM).


METHODS
Sixty-two patients (62 eyes) with PM underwent PDT according to the guidelines of the Verteporfin in Photodynamic Therapy Study. Clinical evaluations performed at all study visits included measurement of best-corrected Snellen visual acuity, slit-lamp biomicroscopy, and fundus fluorescein angiography. Patients were followed up at 1 month and 3 months after treatment and thereafter at 3-month intervals.


RESULTS
The final visual acuity of the study patients, after a median follow-up of 31 months, improved by >or=1 Snellen lines in 8 patients (13%), deteriorated in 20 (32%), and remained stable in 34 (55%). The baseline visual acuity was similar in the various study groups. The final mean visual acuity in group A (55 years of age or younger) was 20/80 and significantly (P=0.006) better than that (20/138) in group B (older than 55 years of age). The mean final visual acuity in eyes with higher refractive error at baseline (greater than -17 diopters) was significantly better (P=0.014) than that in eyes with lower refractive error (-6 to -10 diopters). CNV size did not affect visual outcomes.


CONCLUSIONS
PDT preserves vision in patients with CNV associated with PM. Younger patients and eyes with higher refractive error appear more likely to benefit from PDT with verteporfin.
Pece
Alfredo
A
Department of Ophthalmology, Melegnano Hospital, Milan, and NOOP Department, Sezione di Oftalmologia, Università di Palermo, Palermo, Italy. pece.retina@mclink.it
Isola
Vincenzo
V
Vadalà
Maria
M
Matranga
Domenica
D
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D020256:Choroidal Neovascularization / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology; D005260:Female; D005451:Fluorescein Angiography; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D005584:Fovea Centralis; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D047728:Myopia, Degenerative / Q000150:complications*; D010778:Photochemotherapy; D017319:Photosensitizing Agents / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D011166:Porphyrins / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D000077362:Verteporfin; D014792:Visual Acuity / Q000502:physiology
D017319:Photosensitizing Agents; D011166:Porphyrins; D000077362:Verteporfin