[Transpupillary thermotherapy of classic choroidal neovascular membranes]

Whether the efficacy of treatment of classic choroidal neovascular membranes (CNM) can be increased by transpupillary thermotherapy (TTT) was studied. TTT was performed by using diode laser at a wave length of 0.81 microgram. 21 patients (24 eyes) with CNM in myopia, retinal angioid streaks, age-related macular degeneration and idiopathy were followed up. The results were as follows: within 7.5 months after treatment visual acuity increased or did not change in 18 patients (21 eyes--87.5%), regression of CNM was observed in 17 cases (18 eyes--75%). TTT in most of cases led to the regression of classic CNM without decline of visual functions. The efficacy of TTT and remote results of treatment require further investigation.