Verteporfin: new indication. New indication in complications of high myopia: no sustained benefit

(1) High myopia can lead to subfoveal choroidal neovascularisation with a marked loss of central vision. There is no satisfactory treatment. (2) Marketing authorisation has been granted for verteporfin in this indication. Intravenous verteporfin injection is followed by cold red laser therapy, in one or several sessions. (3) In a multicentre comparative randomised double-blind trial involving 120 patients, verteporfin + cold red laser therapy stabilised visual acuity in 72% of patients after one year of follow-up, compared to 44% of patients who received a placebo + cold red laser therapy. This advantage was lost at two years of follow-up. (4) This trial revealed no new side effects of verteporfin. (5) In practice, for want of anything better, verteporfin-based photodynamic therapy may be helpful, but patients should be told of its limitations.