Transpupillary thermotherapy for myopic choroidal neovascularization: 1-year follow-up: TTT for myopic CNV

To evaluate the use of transpupillary thermotherapy (TTT) for myopic choroidal neovascularization (CNV) retrospectively in a case series.

Ten consecutive patients with CNV secondary to high myopia were treated with TTT and followed-up for 18.3 +/- 7.1 months (range: 12-30 months). An activity scoring (AS) scheme based on CNV size, central foveal thickness as determined by optical coherence tomography (OCT), amount of subretinal hemorrhage, and fluorescein angiography (FA) staining characteristics was developed to assess the response to treatment. The main outcome measures were AS and visual acuity (VA).

There was no significant loss or gain in VA, and the lesions stabilized in all eyes. FA revealed late staining typical of CNV scarring, and the amount of central foveal thickness decreased in all eyes, as determined by OCT. The mean AS at 3, 6, and 12 months and at the final visit were significantly lower than the preoperative AS (P<0.05). No complication occurred during or after treatment.

A scheme for evaluating overall CNV activity may be useful tool for assessing the response of patients to TTT. TTT seems to stabilize myopic CNVs both clinically and as revealed by angiography, with a significant decrease in the activity of lesions. Longer term results are required to evaluate the stabilizing effect of TTT in myopic CNV.