[Radiation therapy for small choroidal neovascularization in age-related macular degeneration]

To evaluate radiation therapy for age-related macular degeneration with subfoveal or juxtafoveal choroidal neovascularization smaller than or equal to 1 disc area.

Nonrandomized comparative clinical trial.

Fourteen eyes received a total radiation dose of 10-20 Gy in 5-10 fractions. The mean follow-up time was 22 months. Ten eyes in a control group were followed for an average of 16 months without any treatment.

At a 12-month follow-up examination, funduscopic and angiographic findings had improved in 7 eyes (50%), were unchanged in 1 eye (7%) and, had deteriorated in 6 eyes (43%) among the treated patients. The same findings had improved in 1 eye (10%), were unchanged in 2 eyes (20%), and had deteriorated in 7 eyes (70%) among the control patients. There was a statistically significant difference by Mann-Whitney U test between the two groups. Visual acuity had improved in 4 eyes (29%), was unchanged in 6 eyes (43%), and had declined in 4 eyes (29%) among the treated patients. Among the control patients visual acuity had improved in none of the eyes (0%), was unchanged in 6 eyes (60%), and had declined in 4 eyes (40%). The difference between the two groups was not statistically significant. Of the 7 cases whose fundus had improved by 12 months, 4 cases maintained a favorable status through the following 2 years.

Radiation therapy had an inhibitory effect on small choroidal neovascularization when viewed by funduscopy and angiography, but, the efficacy for visual prognosis was not always identified.