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ABSTRACT: We report our experience with photodynamic therapy (PDT) in the treatment of choroidal neovascularization (CNV) in young adult patients. This was a retrospective study of young adults with CNV treated with PDT. Data collected included age, diagnosis, type and size of CNV, number of treatments, visual outcome, and side effects. Ten patients (11 eyes) were included in the study (mean age 27.2 +/- 13.3 years). Etiologies included multifocal choroiditis (3 eyes), idiopathic CNV (5 eyes), central serous chorioretinopathy (1 eye), and toxoplasma (2 eye). The mean number of treatments was 2 +/- 0.7 and the mean follow-up time was 13.1 +/- 9.5 months. Initial visual acuity (VA) ranged from 20/25 to 20/1,200 (mean logMAR 0.6 +/- 0.5), and improved to 20/20 to 20/250 (mean logMAR 0.46 +/- 0.4) (P = 0.51). Of the four eyes that received additional treatment with oral steroids, one of which also received intravitreal bevacizumab (Avastin) injections, all had visual acuity improvement of 2 or more lines, while only two of seven eyes that received PDT alone showed such improvement. PDT can improve visual outcome in a subgroup of young patients with subfoveal CNV especially when supplemented with oral steroid and bevacizumab injections.
International Ophthalmology 08/2010; 30(4):345-51.
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ABSTRACT: Subretinal hemorrhage is one of the most serious complications of exudative age-related macular degeneration (AMD). Treatment with vitreous surgery with or without plasminogen activator, fluid-gas exchange, or perfluorocarbon yields only a small improvement in visual acuity.
The files of 24 patients with submacular hemorrhage secondary to AMD who were treated by injection of perfluoropropane gas (C(3)F(8)) (11 patients) or sulfur hexafluoride (SF(6)) (13 patients) were reviewed for visual acuity before and after the procedure and time of treatment from onset of symptoms.
For the whole sample, pneumatic displacement led to a statistically significant improvement in mean visual acuity (p = 0.015). A significant difference between pre- and postoperative visual acuity was found for the patients treated with SF(6) (p = 0.034), but not for the patients treated with C(3)F(8) (p = 0.245).
The use of gas injection to displace submacular hemorrhage can significantly improve visual acuity.
Ophthalmologica 02/2007; 221(1):57-61. · 1.42 Impact Factor
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ABSTRACT: Two patients with end-stage renal disease and on long-term hemodialysis presented with hypotension and an acute unilateral loss of vision. A diagnosis of anterior ischemic optic neuropathy (AION) was made quickly, but despite high-dose steroid therapy, significant vision was not recovered. Temporal artery biopsy results showed extensive medial calcification. The possibility that hypotension, when coupled with calcific uremic arteriolopathy in arteries supplying the optic nerve head, will lead to AION in dialyzed patients is discussed. A short review of AION in the dialysis population is given.
American Journal of Kidney Diseases 01/2005; 44(6):e93-7. · 5.43 Impact Factor
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ABSTRACT: To evaluate the visual outcome of patients with myopic subfoveal choroidal neovascularization (CNV) given photodynamic therapy (PDT) in a clinical setting, and to identify potential relation between the visual outcome and the age at treatment.
Interventional case series.
Retrospective comparative study.
Outpatient ophthalmology clinic.
Twenty-nine consecutive patients (30 eyes) with subfoveal CNV caused by pathologic myopia who were treated with verteporfin PDT from January 2000 to May 2003.
All the patients received verteporfin PDT and were followed clinically and with fluorescein angiography (FA). Review of the medical records and angiograms was performed. Patients were divided into two groups by age, using the median age (60 years) as the cutoff.
Visual acuity (VA) at the end of follow-up in the older-patient group compared with the younger-patient group.
The mean age was 63.1 years. Mean follow-up was 11.5 months. Patients received a mean of 3.48 treatments. Mean VA improved in the younger group from 0.63 to 0.39 logMAR (P = .02, paired t test) and deteriorated in the older group from 0.71 to 0.99 logMAR (P = .03, paired t test). In the whole cohort, 33% of eyes lost 3 or more lines of Snellen best-corrected VA; in the older age group, 50% of eyes lost 3 or more lines, whereas in the younger age group, only 8% of eyes did so (P = .024, Fisher's exact test).
In our consecutive case series, visual prognosis of myopic CNV after PDT was found to be influenced by age at treatment.
American Journal of Ophthalmology 11/2004; 138(4):602-7. · 4.22 Impact Factor
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ABSTRACT: To study the visual and angiographic outcome of eyes with neovascular age-related macular degeneration associated with pigment epithelium detachment (PED) treated by photodynamic therapy.
Review of the medical charts and the fluorescein and indocyanine green angiograms of all consecutive patients with age-related macular degeneration associated with choroidal neovascularization and serous PED of at least 1 disc diameter, who received photodynamic therapy from January 1, 2000, to August 31, 2002.
Thirty patients (34 eyes) met the study criteria. Each underwent 1 to 8 treatments (mean, 4); duration of follow-up was 12 to 36 months (mean, 19 months). Nineteen eyes (56%) lost 3 or more Snellen lines of visual acuity, 7 eyes (21%) lost 1 or 2 lines, 6 eyes (18%) maintained their initial acuity, and 2 eyes (6%) gained 1 or 2 lines. Subretinal hemorrhage occurred in 5 eyes and retinal pigment epithelium tears in 4 eyes. In 4 eyes, visual acuity decreased to counting fingers, hand motions, or light perception.
Although 44% of the 34 eyes with age-related macular degeneration and PED lost fewer than 3 Snellen lines in acuity, severe visual loss to counting fingers or less occurred in 4 eyes, 3 of them with choroidal neovascularization inside the PED. Further studies and treatment modalities are required to improve prognosis of neovascular age-related macular degeneration with serous PED.
Archives of Ophthalmology 05/2004; 122(4):453-9. · 3.71 Impact Factor
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ABSTRACT: To evaluate the visual outcome of patients with subfoveal choroidal neovascularization due to age-related macular degeneration, who received photodynamic therapy (PTD) in a clinical setting and to identify potential predictive visual and angiographic factors.
Interventional case series.
The study included 74 patients with subfoveal choroidal neovascularization who underwent PDT from January 2000 to March 2001 and completed at least 1 year follow-up. All patients received verteporfin PDT and were followed clinically, with fluorescein angiography (74 eyes), and with indocyanine green angiography (65 eyes). A review of the medical records and angiograms was performed.
Mean follow-up was 15.6 months. Patients received a mean of 3.4 treatments per year. Sixty-six percent lost less than 3 Snellen lines of visual acuity. Three patients (4%) experienced profound visual acuity loss to finger counting. Final visual acuity was positively correlated with lesion size and visual acuity at presentation. Visual outcome was worse in the presence of cystoid macular edema. On indocyanine green angiography, a round hypofluorescent spot was seen at the site of the PDT, with maintenance of medium and large choroidal vessels.
Smaller lesion size and better visual acuity at presentation were good predictive signs, whereas cystoid macular edema was found to be a poor prognostic sign for visual outcome following PDT.
American Journal of Ophthalmology 03/2004; 137(2):258-64. · 4.22 Impact Factor
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ABSTRACT: To evaluate indocyanine green imaging of choroidal changes in pathologic myopia and to compare it with fluorescein angiography.
The angiograms of all consecutive patients with pathologic myopia photographed with confocal indocyanine green angiography using a scanning infrared laser or ophthalmoscope from March 1997 to December 1999 were reviewed.
Twenty-one patients (35 eyes) were included. Indocyanine green angiography was performed in 35 eyes and immediate sequential fluorescein angiography and indocyanine green angiography in 25 eyes. The lacquer cracks were demonstrated to radiate from the disc, at the papillomacular bundle, through the macula, and around the macula. Lacquer cracks were identified in 89% and 28% of the eyes, respectively. Choroidal neovascularization (CNV) was demonstrated in 57% of eyes by indocyanine green angiography and in 56% by fluorescein angiography. All of the CNVs were classic and were located within 300 microm of the foveal center. Seventy percent of the CNVs were delineated in lacquer cracks by indocyanine green angiography. Overall, 124 lacquer cracks were identified by indocyanine green angiography and only 14 by fluorescein angiography. Lipids or serous detachment were not observed. Retinal hemorrhages were noted in 22% and 28% of eyes with indocyanine green angiography and fluorescein angiography, respectively.
Confocal indocyanine green angiography offers better delineation of lacquer cracks and the localization of the CNV in lacquer cracks than does fluorescein angiography.
Ophthalmic Surgery Lasers and Imaging 35(2):139-45. · 0.62 Impact Factor
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ABSTRACT: To report the outcome of combined verteporfin photodynamic therapy (PDT) and intravitreal triamcinolone acetonide (IVTA) for the treatment of choroidal neovascularization (CNV) with serous pigment epithelium detachment (PED) due to age-related macular degeneration (AMD).
The files of all consecutive patients with CNV and serous PED who received PDT and IVTA either primarily (primary treatment group) or following previous unsuccessful PDT (secondary treatment group) were reviewed for visual and angiographic results.
Ten patients (11 eyes) were included. Mean number of PDT sessions was 3.18; 8 eyes received one IVTA injection and 3 eyes received two IVTA injections. Thirty-six percent of patients retained their initial visual acuity after a mean follow-up of 15.3 months. Loss of 3 or more Snellen lines was noted in 2 of 3 eyes in the primary treatment group and 5 of 8 eyes in the secondary treatment group. Increased intraocular pressure developed in 3 patients and was controlled by topical medications.
Although combined PDT and IVTA may be considered for CNV with serous PED in patients with poor prognosis with PDT alone, the regimen as administered in this small series was not beneficial. Further studies are required to determine whether alternate sequences, timing, or doses would yield a better outcome.
Ophthalmic Surgery Lasers and Imaging 37(6):455-61. · 0.62 Impact Factor
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ABSTRACT: The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of interferon alpha-2a, an angiogenesis inhibitor, on eyes with active neovascularization after complete laser panretinal photocoagulation treatment.
Eight patients with active neovascularization persisting for 6 months or more after completion of full panretinal photocoagulation were included in the study. All patients were treated with subcutaneous injections of 6 million international units of interferon alpha-2a, 3 times a week, for an average period of 10 months. Visual acuity, contrast sensitivity, blood tests, fundus photographs, fluorescein angiography, and physical examination were performed periodically. The main outcome measures were visual acuity and extent of neovascularization as assessed by fundus photography and fluorescein angiography.
The 5 men and 3 women (mean age, 60 years) had a mean duration of diabetes of 19 years. The average study follow-up was 42.2 +/- 8.7 weeks. Visual acuity and extent of neovascularization improved or remained stable in 7 patients. In none of the patients was there progression of neovascularization, but in 1 patient it could not be assessed due to vitreous hemorrhage. Most patients had malaise during the first weeks of treatment, but none of the patients suffered from nonreversible side effects associated with interferon alpha-2a.
This pilot study provides evidence that interferon alpha-2a might have a role in the regression of proliferative diabetic retinopathy and that further investigation is warranted.
Ophthalmic Surgery Lasers and Imaging 35(1):16-22. · 0.62 Impact Factor
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ABSTRACT: To compare the results of combined pars plana vitrectomy and cataract extraction with intraocular lens implantation by phacoemulsification versus manual extracapsular cataract extraction through a sclerocorneal tunnel.
Retrospective chart review of all patients who underwent combined pars plana vitrectomy with intraocular lens implantation and phacoemulsification or extracapsular cataract extraction through a sclerocorneal tunnel between March 1992 and July 2002.
Fifty-four eyes of 51 patients were evaluated. Mean age was 69.68 +/- 9.11 years, and mean follow-up was 9 months. Phacoemulsification was performed in 35 cases (64%) and manual extraction in 19 cases (36%). Visual acuity improved from mean logarithm of the minimal angle of resolution 1.69 +/- 0.54 before surgery to 1.22 +/- 0.76 after surgery. There was a greater improvement of visual acuity in the phacoemulsification group (0.59 +/- 0.67) than in the extracapsular cataract extraction group (0.22 +/- 0.68) (P = .06). Final visual acuity was correlated to the vitreoretinal pathology. Ultrasound biomicroscopy showed well-positioned foldable or rigid intraocular lens in the bag or in the sulcus.
Combined cataract extraction by phacoemulsification or extracapsular cataract extraction through sclerocorneal tunnel and pars plana vitrectomy are safe and effective procedures.
Ophthalmic Surgery Lasers and Imaging 37(2):94-8. · 0.62 Impact Factor
