Verteporfin therapy for neovascular age-related macular degeneration in Indian eyes

To determine visual outcome after a 12-month follow-up period of verteporfin therapy for subfoveal choroidal neovascularization (CNV) secondary to age-related macular degeneration (AMD) in Indian patients.

Twenty-five patients (26 eyes) who completed a 12-month follow-up after photodynamic therapy for subfoveal CNV secondary to AMD were included in the study. The follow-up schedule was every month for 2 months and then every 3 months thereafter until 12 months. Improvement in visual acuity was defined as a >or=10-letter gain, and deterioration as a >or=10-letter loss in the Early Treatment Diabetic Retinopathy Study chart at 4 m.

The mean age of the 25 patients was 62.3 +/- 9 years. There were 17 male patients (68%). The mean initial letter acuity was 28. 4 +/- 14.1, and the final letter acuity was 25.5 +/- 18.4 at 12 months. Initial visual acuity was >or=20/40 in seven eyes, 20/50-20/80 in nine eyes, and 20/100-20/200 in ten eyes; seven eyes had a >or=10-letter gain, and three eyes had a >or=10-letter loss. At the end of 12 months, six eyes had a >or=10-letter gain and ten eyes had a >or=10-letter loss.

Photodynamic therapy appears to preserve the vision in subfoveal CNV secondary to AMD in the eyes of Indian patients.