Photodynamic therapy with verteporfin for juxtafoveal choroidal neovascularization secondary to pathologic myopia - 1-year results of a prospective series

Abstract

Purpose: To study the efficacy of photodynamic therapy (PDT) with verteporfin in the treatment of juxtafoveal choroidal neovascularization (CNV) secondary to pathologic myopia. Methods: Prospective, open label, two-centre, noncomparative, interventional case series. Consecutive patients with juxtafoveal CNV associated with pathologic myopia were recruited and treated with a standard regimen of PDT with verteporfin. Patients were being followed up every 3-monthly and retreatment was considered when there was evidence of angiographic leakage. Outcome measures included changes in the mean best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) at the 1-year follow-up when compared with the baseline, the proportion of patients who had stable (within 1 line) and improved visions. Results: A total of 11 eyes from 11 patients with juxtafoveal CNV secondary to pathologic myopia were recruited and all completed the 1-year follow-up. The mean age at presentation was 44.8 years. The refractive error ranged from -6.0 to -15.0 D (± SD was -9.55 ± 3.04D). The logMAR BCVA improved from 0.57 to 0.39 at the 1-year follow-up (Wilcoxon signed-ranks test, P = 0.027). The mean improvement was 1.8 lines. Five eyes (45.4%) had BCVA improved by ≥3 lines. None of the treated patients had visual loss of ≥1 line. The mean number of treatments over the 12-month study period was 2.3 sessions. Conclusions: The results are encouraging, especially on considering the low retreatment rate, stable or improved BCVA in all treated eyes, and consistently good safety profile. Juxtafoveal myopic CNV may be an expanded indication for PDT with verteporfin. © 2005 Nature Publishing Group All rights reserved.