Optical coherence tomography analysis of bilateral end-stage choroidal neovascularization where one eye is treated with photodynamic therapy.
BACKGROUND
To compare retinal thickness and subretinal hyper-reflectivity using Stratus optical coherence tomography (OCT3) between the eyes of patients with bilateral end-stage exudative age-related macular degeneration (AMD), where one eye has been treated with photodynamic therapy (PDT).


METHODS
Patients with PDT-treated stable choroidal neovascularization (CNV), defined as a fibrotic lesion not requiring treatment for 6 months, in one eye and an untreated end-stage CNV (disciform) scar in their fellow eye, underwent refraction protocol logMAR visual acuity (VA) in letters, slit-lamp biomicroscopy, fluorescein angiography and OCT3 scan. Subretinal scar thickness was measured as Outer High Reflectivity Band Thickness (OHRBT) and retinal thickness as neuroretinal foveal thickness (NFT) on OCT3.


RESULTS
Thirty-two eyes of 16 patients were studied. Mean OHRBT was 255.62 microm in treated eyes and 350.8 microm in untreated eyes (P = 0.001). Mean NFT was 130.3 microm in the treated eye and 79.9 microm in the untreated eye (P = 0.017). Mean VA was 42 letters in treated eyes and 15 letters in untreated eyes (P < 0.005).


CONCLUSIONS
Based on OCT3 findings, eyes with AMD treated with PDT have a thinner fibrous scar and better preserved retinal thickness when compared with untreated fellow eyes with end-stage fibrotic scarring.
Sahni
Jayashree
J
St Paul's Eye Unit, Royal Liverpool University Hospital, Liverpool, UK. jayashree2001@hotmail.com
Stanga
Paulo
P
Wong
David
D
Lenfestey
Pauline
P
Kent
David
D
Harding
Simon
S
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D020256:Choroidal Neovascularization / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005122:Exudates and Transudates; D005260:Female; D005451:Fluorescein Angiography; D006801:Humans; D008268:Macular Degeneration / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy; D008297:Male; D010778:Photochemotherapy; D017319:Photosensitizing Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012160:Retina / Q000473:pathology*; D041623:Tomography, Optical Coherence; D014792:Visual Acuity
D017319:Photosensitizing Agents