Transpupillary thermotherapy in exudative, age-related macular degeneration [in German]

OBJECTIVE: To assess the effectiveness of a single transpupillary thermotherapy (TTT) in patients with exudative, age-related macular degeneration (AMD). METHODS: In a prospective pilot study, 14 patients with a mean age of 78 years (range: 70-92 years) with subfoveal choroidal neovascularisation (CNV) due to exudative, age-related macular degeneration were treated with a single TTT using a diode laser (810 nm). Seven patients had a classic and seven an occult CNV. Laser beam size was 4.5 mm,the power setting was 800 mW and the exposure lasted 60 s. RESULTS: Twelve out of 14 patients could be followed for a period of 18 months. Stabilisation of the visual acuity was achieved in two patients, ten patients lost three or more Snellen lines. In none of the patients a regression of the CNV could be observed immediately after TTT. Inactive fibrotic scars developed in six patients at the end of the study. CONCLUSION: Our results suggest that TTT, according to our protocol, has no beneficial effect on the spontaneous course of the CNV in patients with AMD