J Korean Ophthalmol Soc.  2007 Jul;48(7):919-924.

Results Following Transpupillary Thermotherapy for Choroidal Neovascularization

• Lee JM
• Keum JE
• Lee SC

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.

Keyword

Age-related macular degeneration; Choroidal neovascularization; Transpupillary thermotherapy

MeSH Terms

Absorption
Choroid*
Choroidal Neovascularization*
Fibrosis
Humans
Hyperthermia, Induced*
Macular Degeneration
Retrospective Studies
Subretinal Fluid
Tomography, Optical Coherence