[Photodynamic therapy of AMD for the first (better sight) and the second (worse sight) eyes].
BACKGROUND
Photodynamic therapy (PDT) is the standard treatment procedure for many forms of exudative and/or neovascular AMD. Despite therapy, visual acuity often drops to low vision levels. The cost efficiency of treating the eye in which vision is worse is therefore the subject of some controversy.


METHODS
A retrospective case-control study was conducted in all patients who were treated with PDT at the Universitätsspital Zürich between September 1999 and November 2004. Each patient's first (with worse vision) and second (with better vision) eyes were compared for situation on presentation and course during treatment.


RESULTS
In 117/228 cases (51.3%) visual acuity of the treated eye was better than (or identical to) that of the fellow eye at presentation. Visual acuity before therapy was an average of 0.58+/-0.27 logMAR [Snellen: 0.26 (0.14-0.49)] in the eyes with better visual acuity and 0.69+/-0.4 logMAR [Snellen 0.20 (0.08-0.51)] in the fellow eyes (p=0.015). After therapy there was no significant difference between the patient groups in visual acuity or in the magnitude of any change in visual acuity, or in lesion size or change in lesion size.


CONCLUSIONS
The outcome of PDT of a second eye (with better visual acuity) is not significantly better than the result obtained in the first eye (the one with worse visual acuity initially).
Marti
A C
AC
Augenklinik, Universitätsspital Zürich, Rämistrasse 100, 8049, Zürich, Switzerland.
Sutter
F K P
FK
Barthelmes
D
D
Fleischhauer
J C
JC
Kurz-Levin
M M
MM
Bosch
M M
MM
Helbig
H
H
D016022:Case-Control Studies; D003362:Cost-Benefit Analysis; D006801:Humans; D008268:Macular Degeneration / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000191:economics; D010778:Photochemotherapy / Q000191:economics; D017319:Photosensitizing Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D011166:Porphyrins / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D000077362:Verteporfin; D014792:Visual Acuity
D017319:Photosensitizing Agents; D011166:Porphyrins; D000077362:Verteporfin