Risk factors for severe vision loss immediately after transpupillary thermotherapy for occult subfoveal choroidal neovascularization.
OBJECTIVE
To determine risk factors for immediate severe vision loss in patients with age-related macular degeneration after transpupillary thermotherapy for occult subfoveal choroidal neovascularization.


METHODS
Retrospective review of 84 consecutive patients with age-related macular degeneration who received transpupillary thermotherapy for occult subfoveal choroidal neovascularization. Seven cases had severe vision loss and 77 were controls. All patients were treated with a diode infrared laser. Follow-up was completed on all patients 1, 3, and 6 months after treatment with transpupillary thermotherapy.


RESULTS
Pretreatment visual acuity ranged from 20/40 to 1/200. Seven of 84 consecutive eyes had an immediate visual acuity loss of 6 or more Snellen lines after transpupillary thermotherapy.


CONCLUSIONS
Transpupillary thermotherapy has a small but significant risk of immediate severe vision loss in patients with age-related macular degeneration with occult subfoveal choroidal neovascularization. Statistically significant risk factors include a subretinal hemorrhage 5 disc areas or greater in size, 9 disc areas or greater of subretinal fluid, and a laser power greater than 550 mW.
Mason
John O
JO
Department of Ophthalmology, University of Alabama at Birmingham School of Medicine, Callahan Eye Foundation Hospital, Birmingham, Alabama 35233, USA.
Colagross
Cheri C
CC
Feist
Richard M
RM
White
Milton F
MF
Thomley
Martin L
ML
Vail
Rachel S
RS
McGwin
Gerald
G
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001766:Blindness / Q000209:etiology*; D020256:Choroidal Neovascularization / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D006979:Hyperthermia, Induced / Q000009:adverse effects*; D054023:Lasers, Semiconductor / Q000009:adverse effects; D008268:Macular Degeneration / Q000150:complications / Q000628:therapy*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011680:Pupil; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D014792:Visual Acuity