Changes in visual function and thickness of macula after photodynamic therapy for age-related macular degeneration

Original Research

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Authors: Kyoko Okada, Mariko Kubota-Taniai, Masayasu Kitahashi, et al

Published Date September 2009 Volume 2009:3 Pages 483 - 488

DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.2147/OPTH.S6584

Kyoko Okada, Mariko Kubota-Taniai, Masayasu Kitahashi, Takayuki Baba, Yoshinori Mitamura, Shuichi Yamamoto

Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Science, Chiba University Graduate School of Medicine, Chiba, Japan

Purpose: To determine the correlation between the changes in the central retinal sensitivity and the changes in the foveal thickness (FT) after photodynamic therapy (PDT) for age-related macular degeneration (AMD).

Methods: Nineteen eyes of 19 patients with choroidal neovasularizations (CNVs) secondary to AMD were studied. The pretreatment values of the central retinal sensitivity determined by Micro Perimeter 1 (MP1; Nidek Technologies), best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA), and optical coherence tomography (OCT)-determined FT were compared to the postoperative values at three and six months after PDT.

Results: At six months, the retinal sensitivity within the central 10° was significantly improved (P = 0.02) and the FT was significantly thinner (P = 0.016). The BCVA, however, did not change significantly (P = 0.80). The changes in the retinal sensitivities were significantly correlated with the changes in the decrease in the FT (r = -0.59, P = 0.012 within the central 10°) at six months after PDT.

Conclusion: Significant improvements in retinal sensitivities within the central 10° and a decrease in FT were observed even though the BCVA was not significantly improved. The measurement of retinal sensitivity by MP1 may be a better method to assess central visual function than the conventional visual acuity after PDT.

Keywords: age-related macular degeneration, fundus-related microperimetry, optical coherence tomography, photodynamic therapy