title: Verteporfin photodynamic therapy involving the optic nerve for peripapillary choroidal neovascularization.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  To report the outcome of consecutive patients treated with verteporfin photodynamic therapy in which the treatment zone overlapped the optic nerve.
  
  
  METHODS
  Retrospective interventional case series with chart review of seven patients with peripapillary choroidal neovascularization secondary to age-related macular degeneration treated with standard-dose verteporfin photodynamic therapy.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The first of seven patients had excellent visual outcome with visual acuity measurement improved from 20/80 to 20/20 at 6 months post-treatment which remained stable for over 2 years. All remaining patients had improvement of visual acuity with resolution of peripapillary hemorrhage. Only two of the seven patients required more than one treatment with verteporfin photodynamic therapy.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Peripapillary choroidal neovascular membranes can be successfully treated with standard-dose verteporfin photodynamic therapy, often with resolution of neovascularization with one treatment. There was no evidence of optic nerve damage from the intervention.
authors.affiliation: Moran Eye Center, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, USA. paul.bernstein@hsc.utah.edu
authors.forename: Paul S
authors.initials: PS
authors.lastname: Bernstein
authors.forename: Rachael Sue
authors.initials: RS
authors.lastname: Horn
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D020256:Choroidal Neovascularization / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000209:etiology; D005260:Female; D005451:Fluorescein Angiography; D006801:Humans; D008268:Macular Degeneration / Q000150:complications; D008297:Male; D009901:Optic Nerve Diseases / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000209:etiology; D010778:Photochemotherapy; D017319:Photosensitizing Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D011166:Porphyrins / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D019233:Retreatment; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D041623:Tomography, Optical Coherence; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D000077362:Verteporfin; D014792:Visual Acuity / Q000502:physiology
chemical_list: D017319:Photosensitizing Agents; D011166:Porphyrins; D000077362:Verteporfin