Transpupillary thermotherapy in chinese patients with choroidal neovascularization secondary to age-related macular degeneration: emphasis on the influence of power setting.
OBJECTIVE
To perform a safety and efficacy study of transpupillary thermotherapy (TTT) in Chinese patients with choroidal neovascularization (CNV) secondary to age-related macular degeneration (ARMD).


METHODS
In a prospective study, patients with subfoveal or juxtafoveal CNV secondary to ARMD underwent TTT with fixed treatment and follow-up protocols. From August 2002 to December 2004, 26 patients (27 eyes) completed > or =6 months of follow-up and were included in this report.


RESULTS
Fourteen eyes (52%) had improved or stable visual acuity (loss of <3 lines) and 13 eyes (48%) had vision loss of > or =3 lines. The serial mean visual acuity initially decreased during follow-up, then stabilized by 6 months. In the subgroup of occult or minimally classic CNV (20 eyes), 13 eyes (65%) had improved or stable vision. The major complication of TTT included laser-related retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) atrophy in 10 eyes (37%). Six eyes had mild RPE atrophy, 4 eyes had severe RPE-choroid atrophy (macular burn). Analysis of possible risk factors for macular burn showed that 3 eyes had to have the power amplified due to nuclear sclerosis, and 1 pseudophakic eye had regular power.


CONCLUSIONS
TTT in Chinese ARMD patients with occult or minimally classic CNV, according to our protocol, prevented severe vision loss in the majority of patients, but power amplification due to medium lens opacity induced RPE atrophy or burn in some patients.
Kuo
Hsi-Kung
HK
Department of Ophthalmology, Chang-Gung Memorial Hospital, Kaohsiung Medical Center, Kaohsiung, Taiwan. d2767@cgmh.org.tw
Kao
Min-Tse
MT
Chen
Yung-Jen
YJ
Chen
Chih-Hsin
CH
Wu
Pei-Chang
PC
Kao
Min-Lun
ML
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D044466:Asian People; D001284:Atrophy; D002829:Choroid / Q000473:pathology; D020256:Choroidal Neovascularization / Q000208:ethnology / Q000209:etiology* / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy*; D005126:Eye Burns / Q000209:etiology / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D006979:Hyperthermia, Induced / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000379:methods; D008266:Macula Lutea / Q000293:injuries; D008268:Macular Degeneration / Q000150:complications*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010857:Pigment Epithelium of Eye / Q000473:pathology; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011680:Pupil; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014792:Visual Acuity