aspect of the study Key Words

neovascularization, Photodynamic therapy Transpupillary thermotherapy (TTT) of choroidal neovascularization is a developing treatment modality. It uses large spot size, low irradiance and long exposure times with infrared laser to deliver hyperthermia to the choroid and retinal pigment epithelium. TTT has been originally used in the treat-ment of ocular tumors such as choroidal melanoma and choroidal hemangioma. Histologic studies showed secondary vascular sclerosis of irradiated vessels. Most of treatments of choroidal neovascularization have been conducted in eyes with symptomatic subfoveal occult lesions. The rationale for the treatment of choroidal neovascularization is to induce moderate hyper-thermia sufficient to produce CNV thrombosis without major collateral retinal damages. Prelimi-nary results from a number of pilot studies showed that TTT can safely reduce the risk of vision loss in patients with occult CNV secondary to AMD. A placebo-controlled, multi-center trial (TTT4CNV) evaluating the long-term efficacy and visual implications of TTT in occult CNV is underway. The basic principle of TTT and the results of the initial studies are described in this review