Exudative age-related macular degeneration accompanied with choroidal neovascularization treated by transpupillary thermal therapy

Abstract

Objective To observe the therapeutic effects of transpupillary thermal therapy (TTT) on exudative age related maeular degeneration (AMD) accompanied with subfoveal choroidal neovascularization (CNV).Methods The clinical data of 44 eyes of 41 patients with exudative AMD diagnosed by fundus fluorescein angiography (FFA) who had undergone 810 nm-diode laser were retrospectively analyzed.In the 44 eyes of 41 patients,there were 26 eyes of 24 patients had occult CNV,12 eyes of 12 patients had classic CNV,and 5 eyes of 5 patients had small classic CNV.According to the focus sizes,the diameters of beam spot was 1.2-3.0 mm,the power o[laser was 160-400 mW,and the duration was 60 s.The frequency of photocoagulation was once to thrice with the mean of 1.48.The follow-up duration was 3-24 months with the mean of 10.8 months.Visual acuity,haemorrhage in ocular fundus,absorption of exudation,and the closure of CNV were examined in the follow-up examination.Results A total of 42 eyes of 40 patients were examined at the last time in the follow-up duration,in which the visual acuity kept still or improved in 35 eyes of 33 patients (83.34%) and reduced in 7 eyes of 7 patients (16.67%).The results of OCT revealed that 1 and 3 months after the treatment and at the last time of follow-up duration,the decrease rate of exudative liquid at the macular area was 79.5%,86.4%,and 88.1%,respectively.Three months after the treatment,the macular volume decreased significantly than that before the treatment (P=0.01).The results of FFA demonstrated that at the last time in the folow-up duration,the closure rate of occult CNV,classic CNV,and small classic CNV was 79.16%,46.15%,and 60%,respectively.The exudates increased in 6 eyes of 5 paitnets,including 5 eyes of 4 patients with classic CNV and 1 eye of 1 patient with small classic CNV.Conclusion TTT is effective for AMD accompanied with occult CNV,classic CNV,and small classic CNV. Key words: Macular Degeneration/therapy; Choroidal neovascularization; Hyperthermia,induced/methods,Treatment outcome