Photodynamic therapy for subretinal neovascularization in type 2A idiopathic juxtafoveolar telangiectasis

Abstract

Background: Photodynamic therapy (PDT) with verteporfin is now the standard of care worldwide for the treatment of choroidal neovascularization, but has been used only rarely in those with subretinal neovascular membranes (SRNVM) due to type 2A idiopathic juxtafoveolar retinal telangiectasis (IJT). We performed a retrospective study to examine the outcome of patients treated with PDT for SRNVM secondary to IJT.

Methods: Retrospective interventional case series of 7 eyes of 6 IJT patients with SRNVMs treated with PDT. Ophthalmic examination and fluorescein angiography were performed before treatment, with retreatment every 3 months as needed. The main outcome was the proportion of patients avoiding vision loss (change of +/- 4 letters, or better).

Results: Baseline Snellen acuity ranged from 20/40 to 20/400 (median 20/80). Mean follow-up was 21 months. Patients received 2.4 treatments on average. Five of 7 patients avoided vision loss; acuity improved in 3 eyes (> or = 1 line improvement), stayed the same in 2 eyes (+/- 4 letters) and decreased in 2 eyes (> or = 1 line decrease) over time. Median final acuity was 20/80. Five of 7 eyes had final acuities of > or = 20/200. No leakage was observed in any eyes following cessation of treatment.