Abstract

Background: To determine the incidence of recurrence of choroidal neovascularization (CNV) 18 months following cessation of photodynamic therapy with verteporfin (PDT) monotherapy in patients with age- related macular degeneration (AMD).

Methods: This was a prospective interventional cohort study. Our sample consisted of 108 individuals with CNV secondary to AMD treated with PDT. Data on demographics, pre- and post-PDT ETDRS acuity, pre-PDT lesion size and composition were collected on each participant. All participants returned for fundus photographs and ETDRS acuity measurements 18 months after their final PDT, which were compared to the same measurements from the final treatment session to determine recurrence status. Recurrences were classified primarily on the basis of hemorrhage and increased lesion size.

Results: We observed recurrences in 36 of the 108 eyes (33.3%). Twenty-three of the 36 recurrences (64%) were clinically meaningful. Of the explanatory variables considered, only final PDT acuity was significantly different between those that recurred (45.5 ETDRS letters) and those that did not (38.4 letters; p=0.03).

Conclusion: CNV recurrences are common after PDT for AMD, occurring in 33% of eyes in our study. Visual acuity measured at the final PDT treatment visit may be a predictor of subsequent recurrence.