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Photodynamic therapy in young patients.
Andrew Lam1, Henry C Lee, Allen C Ho
1Retina Service, Wills Eye Hospital, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA.
Summary
Photodynamic therapy (PDT) offers promising results for younger patients with choroidal neovascularization (CNV) not caused by age-related macular degeneration. This study indicates PDT can stabilize or improve vision in these diverse CNV cases.
Area of Science:
- Ophthalmology
- Medical therapy
Background:
- Choroidal neovascularization (CNV) can occur in patients under 50 from various causes.
- Age-related macular degeneration is a common cause of CNV, but other etiologies exist.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the efficacy of photodynamic therapy (PDT) in patients younger than 50 with CNV from non-age-related macular degeneration causes.
- To assess visual acuity outcomes in a case series of these patients.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective chart review of 35 eyes from 34 patients.
- Patients underwent photodynamic therapy (PDT) for choroidal neovascularization (CNV).
Main Results:
- Visual acuity remained stable or improved in 20 of 35 eyes.
- Eyes with myopic degeneration showed a decline in visual acuity, while idiopathic CNV and ocular histoplasmosis cases showed improvement or stability.
- Angioid streaks and other etiologies had varied outcomes, with some eyes improving.
Conclusions:
- PDT may be beneficial in stabilizing and improving vision for CNV caused by myopic degeneration, idiopathic conditions, ocular histoplasmosis, and angioid streaks.
- While evidence for PDT in non-AMD CNV is optimistic, further research is needed to confirm its efficacy across different etiologies.