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Updated: Sep 26, 2026

An In-House-Built and Light-Emitting-Diode-Based Photodynamic Therapy Device for Enhancing Verteporfin Cytotoxicity in a 2D Cell Culture Model
Published on: January 13, 2023
[Photodynamic therapy: extended indication]
R Müller-Velten1, St Michels, U Schmidt-Erfurth
1Universitätsaugenklinik Lübeck.
Objective:
Evaluation of efficacy of photodynamic therapy (PDT) for classic choroidal neovascularization (CNV) beyond the common indication.
Methods:
A group of 256 patients was treated with photodynamic therapy from January to December 2000. Ten of these patients had a predominantly classic CNV due to angioid streaks (5), parafoveal telangiectasia (2), or chorioretinitis (3). In two patients an idiopathic origin of the CNV was presumed. Another 21 patients showed a juxtafoveal classic membrane (12) or a recurrence after laser photocoagulation (9). Visual acuity was evaluated, also in correlation to age and CNV size. Continuous follow-up of CNV and leakage size was performed with fluorescein angiography.
Results:
Overall 85% of the patients showed visual stabilization or improvement during an average observation period of 10.5 months. A correlation was found between age and visual improvement favoring younger patients; however, no correlation was found between visual improvement and CNV size. CNV and leakage size decreased moderately over the 9-month follow-up from 1.81/3.45 mm(2) to 1.61/2.60 mm(2).
Conclusion:
PDT shows efficacy for classic choroidal neovascularization beyond the common indication.

