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Large submacular hemorrhages after verteporfin therapy
Diana V Do1, Neil M Bressler, Susan B Bressler
1The Wilmer Ophthalmological Institute, The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland 21287, USA. sbressler@jhmi.edu
American Journal of Ophthalmology
|March 12, 2004
Summary
Submacular hemorrhage occurred in 9% of age-related macular degeneration patients after verteporfin therapy, leading to significant vision loss and complicating treatment decisions. This complication can occur even without immediate visual acuity decline.
Area of Science:
- Ophthalmology
- Retinal Diseases
- Medical Interventions
Background:
- Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is a leading cause of vision loss.
- Choroidal neovascularization (CNV) is a key feature of wet AMD.
- Photodynamic therapy with verteporfin is a treatment for AMD-related CNV.
Purpose of the Study:
- To report the incidence of large submacular hemorrhages following photodynamic therapy with verteporfin.
- To assess the impact of these hemorrhages on treatment decisions and visual acuity.
- Focus on patients with occult, no-classic subfoveal CNV.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective, noncomparative case series.
- Reviewed records of AMD patients treated with verteporfin for subfoveal CNV (occult, no-classic).
- Identified cases with submacular hemorrhage precluding 3-month follow-up treatment assessment.
Main Results:
- Fifty-five eyes of 52 patients were analyzed.
- Submacular hemorrhage occurred in 9% of eyes, preventing timely treatment decisions.
- Median visual acuity decreased by 8.5 lines at 3 months post-hemorrhage compared to baseline.
Conclusions:
- Submacular hemorrhage post-verteporfin therapy is a significant complication.
- It can lead to severe vision loss even without acute visual decline.
- The complication complicates the determination of further therapeutic interventions.