Fluorecein angiographic abnormalitie after prophylactic macular photocoagulation for high-rik age-related maculopathy Original Reearch Article

Initial tudie ugget that druen aociated with age-related maculopathy reolve in repone to laer photocoagulation; there are conflicting report regarding whether thi treatment might prevent neovacular complication and blindne. The goal of the Druen Laer tudy i to maintain good viual acuity in eye at the highet rik for neovacular complication of age-related maculopathy. In thi report, we alert the ophthalmic community to poible laer-induced complication in patient treated within the context of thi clinical trial. METHOD: A double-maked, randomized, controlled clinical trial of prophylactic macular photocoagulation for high-rik age-related maculopathy i in progre. Patient randomly aigned to treatment received a ring-type ditribution of 12 light pot of argon laer photocoagulation. Druen were treated directly only if they were preent at the protocol treatment location. Fluorecein angiography wa performed in all patient at yearly review, and at nonprotocol viit if ymptom or clinical examination were uggetive of choroidal neovacularization. REULT: Fluorecein angiographic abnormalitie uggetive of choroidal neovacularization have been een in treated eye only: one patient in the pilot tudy and ix patient in the Druen Laer tudy. No fluorecein angiographic abnormalitie were een in eye of control ubject. CONCLUION: Laer photocoagulation in high-rik age-related maculopathy may induce choroidal neovacularization and, therefore, i not recommended outide the context of a randomized, controlled clinical trial.