Clinical experience with interferon alfa-2a for exudative age-related macular degeneration

There has been recent interest in the use of systemic interferon alfa-2a treatment for choroidal neovascular membranes (CNV). Here a pilot study is reported in which 10 patients with exudative age-related macular degeneration (ARMD) have been treated with a course of interferon injections. Of nine eyes with CNV there has been clinical and angiographic improvement in one eye and maintenance of visual acuity at pretreatment levels in three eyes (mean follow up period 7.6 months). Clinical appearance in five eyes was unchanged but these eyes still had active CNV. Two eyes with pigment epithelial detachment showed no clinical or angiographic change after interferon therapy although visual acuity in one eye had improved. Interferon alfa-2a may have a role to play in the treatment of ARMD as an adjunct to laser photocoagulation.