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Low-fluence-rate photodynamic therapy to treat subfoveal choroidal neovascularization in pathological myopia. A study of efficacy and safety

  • Retinal Disorders
  • Published:
Graefe's Archive for Clinical and Experimental Ophthalmology Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Background

To evaluate the efficacy and safety of low-fluence-rate photodynamic therapy (LFPDT) to treat choroidal neovascularisation (CNV) secondary to pathological myopia (PM).

Methods

Twenty-five eyes with CNV in PM underwent LFPDT, with a standard dose of verteporfin and timing but adopting fluence and irradiance rates reduced to 25 mJ/cm2 and 300 mW/cm2, respectively. Best corrected visual acuity (BCVA) was measured and biomicroscopy and fluorescein angiography (FA) were evaluated. Particular attention was paid to choroidal hypoperfusion, and to changes (depigmentation/atrophy) at the RPE level in areas exposed to laser light.

Results

After a mean follow-up of 13.4 ± 2.46 months (range: 12–21), and 1.37 ± 0.66 treatments (range: 1–3), BCVA was stable in 29 (91%) eyes. Two (6%) patients gained more than three lines and one (3%) eye lost more than three lines. Mean greatest linear dimension did not change significantly (p = 0.08) at the end of follow-up. RPE depigmentation was present in six eyes (18%) and no patient showed RPE atrophy.

Conclusions

LFPDT is effective and safe for CNV secondary to PM treatment, stabilizing visual acuity and lesion size and determining only mild RPE changes. Further controlled studies are needed to demonstrate the long-term efficacy and safety of this treatment option.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Ophthalmology and ENT, University of Bari, Piazza Giulio Cesare, 11-70124, Bari, Italy

    Gianluca Besozzi, Luigi Sborgia, Claudio Furino, Nicola Cardascia, Rosanna Dammacco, Giancarlo Sborgia, Andrea Palma Modoni & Francesco Boscia

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  1. Gianluca Besozzi
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  2. Luigi Sborgia
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Correspondence to Francesco Boscia.

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The authors have received no grants and/or funds in support of the study. Preliminary results were presented at ARVO 2008

The authors have no proprietary interest.

The authors have full control of all primary data and they agree to allow Graefes Archive for Clinical and Experimental Ophthalmology to review their data upon request.

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Besozzi, G., Sborgia, L., Furino, C. et al. Low-fluence-rate photodynamic therapy to treat subfoveal choroidal neovascularization in pathological myopia. A study of efficacy and safety. Graefes Arch Clin Exp Ophthalmol 248, 497–502 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00417-009-1232-1

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