Temporary intraocular pressure lowering by photodynamic therapy in pseudoexfoliation glaucoma.
OBJECTIVE
the aim of the study was to ascertain whether photodynamic therapy (PDT) with verteporfin is able to reduce the blood-aqueous barrier impairment in eyes affected by pseudoexfoliative glaucoma (PESG) with consequent intraocular pressure (IOP) lowering.


METHODS
five patients with poorly controlled PESG were selected. The laser energy was directed to the anterior chamber angle and the iris surface by means of a Goldmann lens.


RESULTS
IOP reduction was registered 1 month after PDT and lasted 3 months, reaching the values registered before PDT after that. Iris fluorescein angiography 1 week and 1 month after PDT showed reduced dye leakage, but the same amount of dye leakage visible before PDT was detectable 3 months later.


CONCLUSIONS
PDT can reduce the breakdown of the blood-aqueous barrier and can lower the IOP temporarily in eyes affected by PESG. Further studies are needed to analyze the biochemical changes after PDT in aqueous humor.
Department of Ophthalmology, University of Udine, IRCCS (Istituto di Ricovero eura a Carattere Scientifco), Roma, Italy.
Maurizio Battaglia
MB
Parodi
Pierluigi
P
Iacono
Francesco
F
Bandello
D000368:Aged; D018916:Blood-Aqueous Barrier / Q000187:drug effects*; D002199:Capillary Permeability / Q000187:drug effects; D017889:Exfoliation Syndrome / Q000188:drug therapy*; D005260:Female; D005451:Fluorescein Angiography; D015355:Glaucoma, Neovascular / Q000188:drug therapy*; D006801:Humans; D007429:Intraocular Pressure / Q000187:drug effects*; D007498:Iris / Q000098:blood supply; D008297:Male; D009389:Neovascularization, Pathologic / Q000188:drug therapy; D010778:Photochemotherapy; D017319:Photosensitizing Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D011166:Porphyrins / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000077362:Verteporfin
D017319:Photosensitizing Agents; D011166:Porphyrins; D000077362:Verteporfin