title: Long-term follow-up of standard photodynamic therapy with standardized small spot size for diffuse retinal pigment epitheliopathy.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the long-term efficacy and safety of standard-fluence photodynamic therapy (PDT) with verteporfin using the minimum PDT spot size in patients with diffuse retinal pigment epitheliopathy (DRPE).
  
  
  METHODS
  This is a retrospective study of 67 DRPE cases treated with PDT using a standardized minimum spot size of 850 μm. Indocyanine green angiography (ICGA) was used to guide and determine the outcome of PDT treatment. Best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA), central retinal thickness (CRT), recurrences, and adverse events were recorded and analyzed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The mean follow-up period of the study was 35.8 ± 16.6 months. There was a statistically significant difference in BCVA between baseline and the end of the follow-up (p&lt;0.001). The BCVA improved in 41 eyes (61.2%), remained stable in 20 eyes (29.9%), and deteriorated in 6 eyes (9%). Accordingly, there was a statistically significant difference in CRT between the baseline and the last follow-up visit (p&lt;0.001). The recurrence rate was 13.4% and only one eye presented a recurrence at the same site as the laser treatment. No adverse events were noted.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Application of ICGA-guided standard PDT, with a laser spot size of minimum diameter, on the site of active leakage seems to be effective and safe in a long-term follow-up period, presenting improvement in BCVA, decrease in CRT, and low rate of recurrence.
authors.affiliation: 2nd Department of Ophthalmology, Attikon University Hospital, University of Athens, Athens - Greece.
authors.forename: Alexander
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Rouvas
authors.forename: Eleni
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Nikita
authors.forename: Irini
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Chatziralli
authors.forename: Ioannis
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Ladas
authors.forename: Aggeliki
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Androu
authors.forename: Panagiotis
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Theodossiadis
mesh_terms: D056833:Central Serous Chorioretinopathy / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology; D005260:Female; D005451:Fluorescein Angiography; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007834:Lasers; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010778:Photochemotherapy; D017319:Photosensitizing Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D011166:Porphyrins / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D012008:Recurrence; D055213:Retinal Pigment Epithelium / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000473:pathology; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D041623:Tomography, Optical Coherence; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D000077362:Verteporfin; D014792:Visual Acuity
chemical_list: D017319:Photosensitizing Agents; D011166:Porphyrins; D000077362:Verteporfin