Photodynamic therapy for juxtafoveal choroidal neovascularization due to ocular histoplasmosis syndrome.

PURPOSE: To report the use of photodynamic therapy with verteporfin in patients with juxtafoveal choroidal neovascularization (CNV) for ocular histoplasmosis syndrome (OHS).

METHODS

Retrospective review. Data regarding the following variables were extracted from patient charts: demographic characteristics, previous surgeries, angiographic features, number and time of treatments, follow-up time, and change in visual acuity.

RESULTS

This study sample consisted of 23 eyes of 23 consecutive patients who were treated with photodynamic therapy for the management of juxtafoveal CNV. When post-treatment visual acuity (mean logMAR acuity=0.321) was compared to baseline acuity (mean logMAR visual acuity=3.89) vision improved by more than three Snellen lines in 30% of eyes, remained the same (+/-2 Snellen lines) in 52% of eyes, and worsened (greater than a two-line loss in visual acuity) in 18% of eyes. Although this series was uncontrolled, the patients had a trend toward a therapeutic benefit when compared to published natural history of similar cases (OR=0.292, P value=0.071 when compared to data from the Macular Photocoagulation Study for treatment of juxtafoveal lesions).

CONCLUSION

Photodynamic therapy with verteporfin may be beneficial in patients with juxtafoveal CNV secondary to OHS in terms of both visual stabilization and improvement.