Photodynamic therapy

Purpose: To evaluate results of treatment of choroidal neovascularization with photodynamic therapy (PDT) using verteporfin in eyes age-related macular degeneration (AMD).Methods: A retrospective case series in Department of Ophthalmology, Cukurova University evaluated patients choroidal neovascularization due to AMD. Two hundred-sixteen eyes of one hundred-eighty eight patients with neovascular AMD were enrolled this trial. Fifty five patients recieved intravitreal bevacizumab combined with verteporfin PDT (combined therapy).Results: Two hundred-sixteen eyes of one hundred-eighty eight patients with neovascular AMD were evaluated. Seventy three were women and 115 were men. The average age was 67.96±9.97 years. The average of 1.65±0.8 teratments were given. The visual acuity (VA) was measured with Snellen and ETDRS charts. At the end of the year, there was no change in VA in 40 (19%) patients, 3 lines less decrease in 101 (47%) patients, and 3 lines more increase in 75 (34%) patients. VA improvement was subfoveal CNV than better juxtafoveal CNV.55 of patients (25.5%) was treatment with combined therapy. At last visit, there was no change in VA in 17 % patients, 3 lines less decrease in 43 % patients and 3 lines more increase in 40 % patients.Conclusion: Verteporfin therapy of chroidal neovascularization from AMD can safely reduce the risk of vision loss. Current studies, the combined therapy with PDT and intravitreal bevacizumab is a safe and effective treatment for neovascular AMD.