Benzoporphyrin (Verteporfin) Photodynamic Therapy for Choroidal Neovascularization in Age-Related

Purpose: To review and discuss the available treatments for choroidal neovascularization (CNV) due to age-related macular degeneration (AMD) emphasizing to photodynamic therapy (PDT). Methods: Published papers from 1974 until 1999 related to AMD, its available treatments and PDT were reviewed. Results: The most used effective treatment for CNV is laser photocoa-gulation which does not have a major impact on the blindness due to AMD. Alternative techniques of prevention and treatment are under investigation including surgery, pharmacological antiangiogenic treatment and prevention with photocoagulation. PDT using verteporfin demonstrated effectiveness in closing CNV membranes in an experimental model. A clinical trial showed that a single course treatment could stabilize the area and extent of leakage from subfoveal CNV with classic component in the majority of patients for up to 3 months (Phase I/II). A 12-month data for quaterly treatments was recently reported and showed that visio