Results Following Transpupillary Thermotherapy for Choroidal Neovascularization

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE: To determine whether transpupillary thermotherapy can achieve significant efficacy in maintaining vision without significant adverse effects when used to treat age-related macular degeneration associated with choroidal neovascularization. METHODS: Retrospective chart reviews were made for 33 eyes of 32 patients diagnosed with age-related macular degeneration, and who had received transpupillary thermotherapy due to the development of choroidal neovascularization. Transpupillary thermotherapy was performed 1.4 times on average. RESULTS: Three months after the final therapy, 6 eyes (18%) showed improved vision, 11 eyes (34%) showed no change in vision, and 16 eyes (48%) showed worsening of vision. Of the 21 eyes of 21 patients who were available for optical coherence tomography before and after transpupillary thermotherapy, 19 eyes (90.5%) showed reduced macula thickness, and fundus photographs taken during the latest hospital visit revealed 11 eyes showing fibrosis. CONCLUSIONS: Although it negatively influences subretinal fluid absorption, transpupillary thermotherapy is effective in stabilizing choroidal neovascularization and improving visual accuracy in a short period of time. Thus, further study is warranted.