Randomized trial of radiation for age-related macular degeneration Original Reearch Article

PURPOE: To ae external beam radiation efficacy for ubfoveal neovacularization aociated with age-related macular degeneration. METHOD: All patient were evaluated in the ame intitution. In thi propective trial, 27 eye (27 patient) with ubfoveal neovacularization aociated with age-related macular degeneration were randomized to either ingle fraction radiation (750 centigray) or obervation. Endpoint were aeed by fluorecein angiography and Early Treatment Diabetic Retinopathy tudy (ETDR) viual acuity. Examiner were maked to patient treatment tatu. Parametric and nonparametric tatitical analye were performed. REULT: Twenty-even patient were entered into the trial with a mean age of 76 year (range, 64 to 89) and a mean follow-up of 17 month (range, 7 to 32). The viual acuity lo wa lightly le in the irradiated group, a finding of borderline ignificance (P < .046). There wa no ignificant difference in fluorecein angiographic evidence of ubretinal neovacular membrane change in the control group v the irradiated group. CONCLUION: External beam radiation, at thi doe and fractionation, did not appear harmful. There wa lightly le viual lo in irradiated eye. No difference in fluorecein angiographic characteritic of ubfoveal neovacularization ize or progreion in eye with age-related macular degeneration wa noted.