Radiotherapy for subfoveal neovascularisation associated with pathological myopia: a pilot study

Area of Science:

• Ophthalmology
• Radiation Oncology
• Medical Research

Background:

• Pathological myopia can lead to severe visual impairment due to subfoveal neovascular membranes and hemorrhage.
• Limited effective treatment options exist for these conditions, necessitating novel therapeutic approaches.
• External beam radiotherapy is explored as a potential treatment modality.

Purpose of the Study:

• To determine the toxicity and efficacy of external beam radiotherapy for subfoveal neovascular membranes and hemorrhage in pathological myopia.
• To evaluate the impact of radiotherapy on the size of choroidal neovascular membranes (CNVMs) and visual acuity.

Main Methods:

• A randomized prospective study involving 39 patients with subfoveal neovascularization associated with high myopia.
• 20 patients received radiotherapy (10 Gy in five fractions) while 19 served as a control group.
• Patients were followed for at least 24 months, with measurements of visual acuity and CNVM size.

Main Results:

• No significant acute morbidity was observed in the radiotherapy group.
• The increase in CNVM size over two years was significantly smaller in the radiotherapy group (155%) compared to the control group (249%).
• Visual acuity showed no significant change in the treated group over two years, while it significantly decreased in the control group.

Conclusions:

• External beam radiotherapy demonstrates a favorable treatment effect for subfoveal neovascular membranes and hemorrhage in pathological myopia.
• Radiotherapy appears to stabilize or improve visual acuity and reduce CNVM progression.
• Further research is warranted to confirm the efficacy of radiotherapy for this condition.