Impact of lesion size on photodynamic therapy with verteporfin of predominantly classic lesions in age related macular degeneration

Abstract

Aim: To determine if photodynamic therapy (PDT) outcomes are related to lesion size in patients with subfoveal predominantly classic choroidal neovascularisation (CNV) secondary to age related macular degeneration (AMD). Methods: According to greatest linear dimension (GLD) of the entire lesion determined with fluorescein angiography (FA) patients were divided into two groups. In the first group GLD was 1000 μm was recorded in nine eyes (28.1%) in the group of smaller lesions and in 16 eyes (50%) in the group of larger lesions (p = 0.07). 22 eyes (68.7%) in the group of smaller lesions compared with 19 eyes (59.3%) in the group of larger lesions lost less than three lines of vision (p = 0.06). Relevant side effects related to verteporfin therapy were not recorded, except for four patients (6.2%) with infusion related back pain. Conclusions: These results suggest that lesion size at baseline may be a prognosis factor in PDT in patients with subfoveal predominantly classic CNV secondary to AMD. There are no relevant side effects or safety concerns derived from verteporfin therapy.