Follow-up of age-related macular degeneration patients treated by photodynamic therapy with optical coherence tomography 3.

BACKGROUND: Photodynamic therapy (PDT) has been described to effectively reduce or delay severe vision loss in eyes with predominantly classic form of choroidal neovascularization (CNV) due to age-related macular degeneration (AMD). Optical coherence tomography 3 (OCT3) is a non-invasive diagnostic procedure which provides information about retinal thickness and volume at the posterior pole, as well as about the presence of certain structures under the retina.

METHODS: Prospective interventional study. Eleven eyes (9 patients) with AMD and CNV were treated with Verteporfin PDT. A complete ophthalmologic examination was performed. Fluorescein angiography (FA) and OCT3 scans were performed before treatment and 1, 2, 4, and 12 weeks after it.

RESULTS: Two different patterns of changes were observed. One group (7 eyes) showed changes in the amount of subretinal fluid (decrease, increase, and finally stable decrease), with a reduction in the CNV and the appearance of a subretinal band of hyperreflective tissue. The second group (4 eyes) showed little or no changes in retinal thickness, fluid, or reflectivity.

CONCLUSION: Changes observed in OCT3 scans represent variations in retinal thickness, fluid, and CNV after PDT. OCT3 provides a useful tool in the follow-up and measurement of changes appeared in eyes with CNV associated to AMD after treatment with PDT.