PDT offers angiographic closure in majority of myopic eyes with CNV

Am J Ophthalmol. 2010;151(1):137-147.

Photodynamic therapy achieved angiographic closure in a majority of highly myopic eyes with choroidal neovascularization, a study found.

"Pathologic myopia is the primary cause of choroidal neovascularization in individuals younger than 50 years," the study authors said. "Although further studies are necessary, PDT may be an attractive option for the eyes with juxtafoveal CNV, because in most of them, chorioretinal atrophy did not develop in the long term after a single PDT treatment and they maintained a good vision."

The prospective study included 48 eyes of 46 patients with myopic CNV. Mean patient age was 53.1 years. Mean follow-up was 3.2 years.

Subfoveal CNV was identified in 32 eyes, juxtafoveal CNV in 14 eyes and extrafoveal CNV in two eyes.

Study results showed that patients received an average of 1.4 treatments. Angiographic closure was achieved with one PDT treatment in 69% of patients.

LogMAR best corrected visual acuity did not change significantly from baseline to 4-year follow-up.

Chorioretinal atrophy was identified in 61% of eyes at 3 years and 70% of eyes at 4 years.

Chorioretinal atrophy did not develop among five of seven patients with juxtafoveal CNV at 4 years. Twelve of 13 patients with subfoveal CNV developed chorioretinal atrophy at 4 years; 10 of those 12 patients had BCVA of 0.1 or worse.