Verteporfin photodynamic therapy for extrafoveal choroidal neovascularisation in pathologic myopia.

Background: To report long-term functional and morphological outcome of verteporfin photodynamic therapy (PDT) for classic extrafoveal choroidal neovascularisation (CNV) secondary to pathologic myopia.

Methods: This retrospective case series included three eyes of three consecutive patients with classic extrafoveal CNV secondary to pathologic myopia, who underwent PDT at a tertiary retinal referral centre. Change in visual acuity and fluorescein leakage was the main outcome criteria.

Results: The patients were followed up an average of 36 months (33-40 months). In all eyes increase of visual acuity (one eye 1 ETDRS line, two eyes 2 ETDRS line) and no fluorescein leakage of the CNV were seen.

Conclusions: PDT can achieve long-term improvement of the visual acuity and morphological stability in selected cases with classic extrafoveal CNV in pathologic myopia. Large scale randomised studies are warranted for assessment of the benefit of PDT in such eyes.