Photodynamic therapy with verteporfin for choroidal neovascularization in patients with angioid streaks

PURPOSE: To evaluate safety and efficacy of photodynamic therapy with verteporfin for subfoveal choroidal neovascularization associated with angioid streaks. DESIGN: Prospective interventional case series. METHODS: Eight patients (eight eyes) with subfoveal choroidal neovascularization secondary to angioid streaks were reviewed. Standardized protocol refraction, visual acuity testing, ophthalmologic examinations, color photographs, fluorescein angiograms and indocyanine angiograms were used to evaluate the results of photodynamic therapy with verteporfin. Follow up ranged from 6 to 12 months with a mean (+/- SD) of 8.75 (+/- 2.37) months. RESULTS: Photodynamic therapy with verteporfin was well tolerated in patients with choroidal neovascularization related to angioid streaks. No deterioration in visual acuity was observed. Increase in median best,corrected visual acuity was 1.37 lines (SD +/- 1.59 lines, range 1-5 lines) at the last follow up. Two (25%) patients had no improvement of visual acuity. At the last follow up three (37.5%) patients showed no leakage and three (37.5%) patients had minimal leakage from choroidal neovascularization. Photodynamic therapy related ocular complications were not reported in any case. CONCLUSIONS: Photodynamic therapy with verteporfin generally achieved short-term cessation of or decrease of fluorescein leakage from subfoveal choroidal neovascularization without loss of vision in patients with angioid streaks. Further studies with longer follow up are necessary to confirm whether verteporfin therapy is beneficial for subfoveal choroidal neovascularization related to angioid streaks. (C) 2002 by Elsevier Science Inc. All rights reserved.