Two years follow-up outcome of verteporfin therapy for subfoveal choroidal neovascularization in pathologic myopia in Indian eyes

CONTEXT: In India, refractive errors are a major cause of treatable blindness. Population surveys in southern India have shown prevalence of high myopia to be 4.32-4.54%. Photodynamic therapy (PDT) for choroidal neovascularization (CNV) caused by pathologic myopia is beneficial. AIMS: To report the 24 months outcome of PDT with verteporfin for subfoveal CNV caused by pathologic myopia in Indian eyes SETTINGS AND DESIGN: Prospective case series MATERIALS AND METHODS: Review of prospectively collected data of Indian patients with pathologic myopia and subfoveal CNV treated with verteporfin therapy between 2001 and 2005 using standard regimen for PDT. STATISTICAL ANALYSIS USED: Wilcoxon signed rank test was used to see the difference in the mean letter acuity at intervals compared to baseline. Kaplan Meier Survival analysis was done to estimate the success rate of verteporfin therapy for CNV caused by pathologic myopia. RESULTS: Fifteen patients (15 eyes) treated with standard fluence PDT and who had completed 24 months follow-up were analyzed. The mean spherical equivalent was -13.36 ± 5.88 diopter. Five out of 15 eyes in six months, three out of 15 eyes at 12 months and four eyes out of 15 at 24 months had improved vision by > 10 letters. The mean number of treatment session was 2.2 in two years. CONCLUSIONS: PDT with verteporfin for subfoveal CNV caused by pathologic myopia in Indian eyes is effective.