Verteporfin and Intravitreal Triamcinolone Acetonide Combination Therapy for Occult Choroidal Neovacularization in Age-Related Macular Degeneration Original Reearch Article

Purpoe To evaluate the efficacy and afety of photodynamic therapy (PDT) with verteporfin combined with intravitreal triamcinolone (IVTA) in occult choroidal neovacularization (CNV) econdary to age-related macular degeneration (AMD). Deign ingle center, nonrandomized interventional cae erie. Method A propective, noncomparative, interventional cae erie of 41 eye of 41 patient with a two-year follow-up period. Verteporfin PDT wa performed uing the recommended tandard procedure for approved form of AMD. A olution containing 25 mg of crytalline triamcinolone acetonide wa injected intravitreally 16 hour pot PDT. The procedure wa repeated after three month in cae of peritent CNV leakage. Reult The mean number of treatment needed wa 1.8. Thirty-four eye (82.9%) required one retreatment at three month. No additional retreatment were neceary. Viual acuity improved gradually in mot of the patient with mean value of 20/133 and 20/115 at baeline and three month; 20/101 and 20/84 at ix and twelve month; and 20/83 and 20/81 at eighteen and twenty-four month. Eleven of 41 treated tudy eye (26.8%) underwent cataract urgery between ix and fifteen month after the firt treatment. Nine patient required local or ytemic glaucoma therapy becaue of a tranient teroid induced intraocular preure increae. Concluion Verteporfin PDT combined with intravitreal triamcinolone may improve the outcome of tandard verteporfin PDT in the treatment of occult CNV econdary to AMD. An improvement in viual acuity wa oberved in mot of the treated patient and wa maintained during a two-year follow-up period. Retreatment number were lower than expected from monotherapy trial.