LASER MANAGEMENT OF SUBFOVEAL CHOROIDAL NEOVASCULARIZATION IN AGE-RELATED MACULAR DEGENERATION

Subfoveal choroidal neovascularization in eyes with age-related macular degeneration is associated with a poor natural prognosis. The Macular Photocoagulation Study Group recently has demonstrated that subfoveal photocoagulation in select cases of subfoveal choroidal neovascularization for patients with age-related macular degeneration effectively prevents severe visual acuity loss and reduces the average loss of contrast sensitivity and reading speed associated with this condition. Eligibility criteria and treatment recommendations from the Macular Photoagulation Study will be reviewed. Results of alternative strategies for laser photocoagulation of such lesions are also discussed; however, the Macular Photoagulation Study results stand alone in documenting a long-term treatment benefit of photocoagulation for subfoveal choroidal neovascularization.