ABSTRACT
PURPOSE: To evaluate the incidence of retinal angiomatous proliferation (RAP) and retinal pigmented epithelial detachment (PED) in Korean age-related macular degeneration (ARMD) patients and results of photodynamic therapy (PDT) with verteporfin. METHODS: Between May 2001 and December 2004, two hundred fifty-eight patients diagnosed of ARMD were evaluated and nine eyes of seven patients were as having RAP with PED. All patients underwent two or more sessions of PDT. Best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA), fundus photography, fluorescein angiography and ICG angiography were performed before and after treatment. RESULTS: The incidence of RAP with PED was 2.8%. The mean age of onset was 71.7 and five of seven patients were female. After 17 months and mean 2.3 PDT treatments, mean BCVA decreased from 0.2 to 0.04. In two eyes, additional Transpupillary thermotherapy was undertaken. Occlusion of RAP and flattening of PED was observed in one eye, and four evolved toward stage 3 RAP. Three eyes with PDT developed tear of retinal pigmented epithelium. CONCLUSIONS: Korean ARMD patients showed a low incidence of RAP and poor visual outcomes even with treatment.