Photodynamic therapy with verteporfin in patients with age-related macular degeneration and juxtafoveal choroidal neovascularization.

Purpose: To investigate the effects of photodynamic therapy (PDT) on juxtafoveal choroidal neovascularization (CNV) in age-related macular degeneration (AMD) in a clinical patient material.

Methods: Thirty eyes in 30 consecutive patients with AMD and a juxtafoveal CNV underwent PDT with verteporfin with standard parameters. The patients were followed up for 12 months and retreated every 12 weeks in the event of leakage from CNV. Nineteen patients (63.3%) had a predominantly classic CNV, eight (26.7%) had a 100% occult CNV and three (10%) had a minimally classic lesion. In 27 patients (90%) the lesion was < or = 3 MPS (Macular Photocoagulation Study) disc diameters and < or = 3 MPS disc areas.

Results: There was a positive correlation between duration of symptoms and loss of visual acuity at 12 months (p < 0.02). For predominantly classic lesions, there was a positive correlation between duration of symptoms and lesion size (p < 0.005). At 12 months, leakage had stopped after 3.3 +/- 0.9 treatments in 80% of the patients. Visual acuity remained stable in 63.3% of the patients.

Conclusion: Photodynamic therapy appears to be beneficial in patients with AMD and juxtafoveal CNV.