Proportion of treatable subtypes of choroidal neovascular membranes in age-related macular degeneration

Abstract

ObjectiveTo determine the proportion of treatable neovascular lesions secondary to age-related macular degeneration with argon laser photocoagulation and photodynamic therapy. MethodConsecutive new patients with neovascular AMD with a visual acuity letter score of 73 to 34 on Early Treatment of Diabetic Retinopathy Study (ETDRS) chart underwent fundus fluorescein angiograms (FFA). 200 FFAs confirming choroidal neovascularisation (CNV) due to AMD were classified depending on lesion composition, size and eligibility for treatment with argon laser using MPS (Macular Photocoagulation Study) and photodynamic therapy (PDT) under the Treatment of Age-related Macular Degeneration with Photodynamic Therapy (TAP) Study and Verteporfin for Photodynamic Therapy Study (VIP) recommendations. ResultsOne hundred and fifty of the 200 FFA-proven CNVs were active, of which 130 (86%) were subfoveal. Of the subfoveal lesions, 21.5% were treatable with PDT using the TAP study criteria and 18.5% were treatable according to the VIP study criteria. A further 8% were treatable with argon laser (extrafoveal and juxtafoveal CNV). A total of 48% CNVs were treatable. ConclusionsDespite the advent of PDT, our results show that less than 50% of the patients with neovascular AMD are treatable.