Verteporfin photodynamic therapy for the treatment of persistent subfoveal choroidal neovascularization after external beam radiotherapy: One-year results

PURPOSE: To determine the safety and efficacy of Verteporfin photodynamic therapy (PDT) for the treatment of persistent choroidal neovascularization (CNV) previously treated with external beam radio, therapy (EBRT). DESIGN: Retrospective case series. METHODS: Verteporfin PDT was performed on 14 eyes of 13 patients with symptomatic leakage from CNV previously treated by EBRT. Principal outcome measures were: comparison of visual acuity at 12 months post-PDT with baseline and the recording of any ocular or systemic adverse events. REsuns: At baseline, the mean logMAR (+/- SD) VA was 0.81 +/- 0.33, whereas at the 12-month point it was 0.89 +/- 0.43 (P =.326). At the 12-month examination 10 eyes had lost less than 3 lines of VA, and 8 eyes had lost less than 1.5 lines. During this time, there were 2.1 PDT treatment sessions per eye on average (range = 1 to 4). There were no ocular or systemic adverse events recorded. CONCLUSIONs: This short,term study shows that verteporfin PDT is safe after EBRT and may be of benefit for recalcitrant CNV. (c) 2005 by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.