Update on photodynamic therapy.

To date, photodynamic therapy with verteporfin has been shown to benefit those patients with age-related molecular degeneration and choroidal neovascularization that is subfoveal and predominately classic (> 50%). As of this writing, the Food and Drug Administration is requiring additional data before verteporfin is approved for treatment of occult subfoveal choroidal neovascularization. Photodynamic therapy has also proved beneficial for subfoveal lesions secondary to high myopia. Although there is potential for patients with angioid streaks, ocular histoplasmosis syndrome, and idiopathic causes of choroidal neovascularization to benefit from photodynamic therapy, randomized clinical trials have not been performed. Photodynamic therapy has not been shown to benefit patients with minimally classic (< 50%) lesions.