Long-Term Effect of Laer Treatment for Dry Age-Related Macular Degeneration on Choroidal Hemodynamic Original Reearch Article

Purpoe To determine whether laer treatment applied according to the complication of age-related macular degeneration prevention trial (CAPT) ha an effect on the choroidal circulation. Deign Randomized controlled trial. Method Thi tudy included 30 CAPT patient with bilateral druen. Laer Doppler flowmetry wa ued to meaure relative choroidal blood flow (Chflow) in the fovea. Meaurement were obtained through dilated pupil in both eye of each patient before photocoagulation wa applied in one eye. Meaurement were repeated at three month (30 patient) and 28 month (23 patient). Reult Average Chflow at baeline, three month, and 28 month wa 7.2 ± 2.1 (±1 D), 7.3 ± 2.5, and 6.8 ± 2.7 arbitrary unit (AU) in the control eye and 6.6 ± 1.6, 7.0 ± 2.3, and 7.8 ± 3.0 AU in the treated eye. In comparion to control eye, there wa no ignificant change in Chflow in the treated eye at three month after treatment. At 28 month, however, there wa a 5.6% drop in Chflow in control eye and an 18.2% increae in Chflow in treated eye from baeline. The average difference of 23.8% between the percentage change in Chflow oberved in the control and treated eye wa tatitically ignificant (paired two-tailed tudent t tet; P = .05). Concluion Our reult ugget an increae in choroidal blood flow 28 month after laer treatment according to the CAPT protocol. Thi increae may play a role in the mechanim leading to the diappearance of druen after photocoagulation. Whether removal of druen after photocoagulation i beneficial to the patient i not known at thi time.