Verteporfin photodynamic therapy for the treatment of persistent subfoveal choroidal neovascularization after external beam radiotherapy: one-year results.

Abstract

To determine the safety and efficacy of verteporfin photodynamic therapy (PDT) for the treatment of persistent choroidal neovascularization (CNV) previously treated with external beam radiotherapy (EBRT). Retrospective case series. Verteporfin PDT was performed on 14 eyes of 13 patients with symptomatic leakage from CNV previously treated by EBRT. Principal outcome measures were: comparison of visual acuity at 12 months post-PDT with baseline and the recording of any ocular or systemic adverse events. At baseline, the mean logMAR (+/-SD) VA was 0.81 +/- 0.33, whereas at the 12-month point it was 0.89 +/- 0.43 (P = .326). At the 12-month examination 10 eyes had lost less than 3 lines of VA, and 8 eyes had lost less than 1.5 lines. During this time, there were 2.1 PDT treatment sessions per eye on average (range = 1 to 4). There were no ocular or systemic adverse events recorded. This short-term study shows that verteporfin PDT is safe after EBRT and may be of benefit for recalcitrant CNV.