[Transpupillary thermotherapy of choroidal neovascularisation (CNV) among other methods of treatment]

Choroidal neovascularization (CNV) secondary to age-related macular degeneration is a leading cause of vision loss in adults. Although most patients present with occult CNV, treatment has focused on the small percentage of eyes with well-delineated, classic CNV. Transpupillary thermotherapy is a recent advancement in the management of occult CNV. We demonstrated the effectiveness of transpupillary thermotherapy (TTT) for the treatment of occult choroidal neovascularization (CNV). In a retrospective, case selected trial 50 eyes with CNV secondary to age related macular degeneration (AMD) were studied. The eyes with CNV were treated with diode laser (810 nm) TTT. Laser beam sizes ranged between 0.8 and 3.0 mm and power settings between 700-800 mW. Treatment was given in one area for 1 minute. Transpupillary thermotherapy is a potential treatment for CNV. It is able to close choroidal neovascularization while maintaining visual function in patients with classic and especially occult disease.