Ocular haemodynamic changes after single treatment with photodynamic therapy assessed with non-invasive techniques.
OBJECTIVE
To investigate in patients with neovascular age-related macular degeneration (ARMD) the changes in ocular perfusion caused by single treatment with photodynamic therapy (PDT) by different non-invasive methods; to evaluate correlations between relative changes of ocular haemodynamic parameters after PDT among each other and compared to morphological parameters; and to assess this in relation to early changes of visual acuity.


METHODS



METHODS
17 consecutive patients with subfoveal choroidal neovascularization (CNV) caused by ARMD scheduled for PDT without previous PDT treatment (four patients with predominantly classic CNV and 13 patients with occult CNV).


METHODS
best-corrected visual acuity (before PDT, 6 and 8 weeks after PDT), fundus photography, fluorescein angiography, haemodynamic measurements with laser Doppler flowmetry (LDF), laser interferometry and ocular blood flow (OBF) tonometry (baseline and 1, 2, 6 and 8 weeks after treatment).


METHODS
choroidal blood flow (CHBF), fundus pulsation amplitude (FPA), pulsatile ocular blood flow (POBF), visual acuity. Changes smaller than 20% were considered clinically irrelevant.


RESULTS
Ocular haemodynamic parameters did not change significantly in the follow-up period. Changes of haemodynamic parameters showed no correlation to treatment spot, morphological changes or visual acuity. Changes of visual acuity were comparable to results of earlier studies.


CONCLUSIONS
Single treatment with PDT did not modify ocular blood flow parameters above 20% as assessed with different non-invasive methods.
Department of Ophthalmology and Optometry, Medical University of Vienna, Austria.
Noemi
N
Maar
Berthold
B
Pemp
Karl
K
Kircher
Alexandra
A
Luksch
Günther
G
Weigert
Elzbieta
E
Polska
Michael
M
Tittl
Michael
M
Stur
Leopold
L
Schmetterer
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D020256:Choroidal Neovascularization / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000209:etiology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D005123:Eye / Q000098:blood supply*; D005451:Fluorescein Angiography; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D005654:Fundus Oculi; D006439:Hemodynamics / Q000187:drug effects*; D006801:Humans; D008268:Macular Degeneration / Q000150:complications* / Q000503:physiopathology; D010778:Photochemotherapy; D017319:Photosensitizing Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D011166:Porphyrins / Q000627:therapeutic use; D011673:Pulsatile Flow / Q000187:drug effects; D012039:Regional Blood Flow / Q000187:drug effects; D000077362:Verteporfin; D014792:Visual Acuity / Q000187:drug effects
D017319:Photosensitizing Agents; D011166:Porphyrins; D000077362:Verteporfin