Resolution of advanced cystoid macular edema following photodynamic therapy for choroidal hemangioma

A 45-year-old man was referred for 2 months of decreasing vision in his left eye. His visual acuity was 20/200 secondary to a subtle juxtapapillary choroidal hemangioma producing profound cystoid macular edema, with the affected retina measuring 330 microns thick by optical coherence tomography. Due to the severe cystoid macular edema, visual prognosis was judged to be poor. One month following photodynamic therapy to the tumor using verteporfin, the cystoid macular edema completely resolved, foveal anatomy returned to normal, optical coherence tomography thickness was 179 microns, and visual acuity recovered to 20/25. Photodynamic therapy of choroidal hemangioma may be effective in resolving associated cystoid macular edema and improving visual acuity.