Verteporfin therapy of subfoveal occult choroidal neovascularization in AMD using delayed light application: one-year results of the VALIO Study.
OBJECTIVE
To compare photodynamic therapy (PDT) with verteporfin (Visudyne; Novartis Pharma AG, Basel, Switzerland) using either standard or delayed light application.


METHODS
Phase II, multicenter, masked, randomized clinical trial.


METHODS
Sixty patients with occult with no classic choroidal neovascularization (CNV) resulting from age-related macular degeneration were assigned randomly (1:1) to verteporfin infusion followed by light application either at 15 minutes (standard light) or 30 minutes (delayed light) after the start of the infusion. The assigned treatment was repeated every three months if fluorescein leakage was detected.


RESULTS
At month 12, patients lost a mean of 15.7 letters and 11.4 letters from baseline in the standard and delayed light groups, respectively (P = .38). Twelve (52%) of 23 patients in the standard light group and 11 (42%) of 26 in the delayed light group lost at least 15 letters of visual acuity (P = .57).


CONCLUSIONS
There were no statistically significant differences between verteporfin therapy using the delayed light regimen of 30 minutes or the standard light regimen of 15 minutes in eyes with occult with no classic CNV.
Rosenfeld
Philip J
PJ
Bascom Palmer Eye Institute, Miami, FL, USA. prosenfeld@med.miami.edu
Boyer
David S
DS
Bressler
Neil M
NM
Fish
Gary
G
Grizzard
W Sanderson
WS
Hao
Yong
Y
Hnik
Peter
P
Hudson
Henry L
HL
Singerman
Lawrence
L
Slakter
Jason S
JS
D020256:Choroidal Neovascularization / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000209:etiology; D004396:Coloring Agents; D005451:Fluorescein Angiography; D006801:Humans; D007208:Indocyanine Green; D008268:Macular Degeneration / Q000150:complications*; D010778:Photochemotherapy / Q000379:methods*; D017319:Photosensitizing Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D011166:Porphyrins / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D019233:Retreatment; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D000077362:Verteporfin; D014792:Visual Acuity
D004396:Coloring Agents; D017319:Photosensitizing Agents; D011166:Porphyrins; D000077362:Verteporfin; D007208:Indocyanine Green