Medium- or long-term follow-up for choroidal neovascularization with transpupillary thermotherapy

Purpose: To evaluate the efficacy of transpupillary thermotherapy (TTT) for choroidal neovascularization (CNV). Methods: TTT was performed in 32 cases of subfoveal CNV. The patients were followed up with measurements of visual acuity (VA), fundus examinations, angiography, and optical coherence tomography for more than 6 months after the procedure. Results: Mean VA was 0.12 before TTT, 0.09 at 6 months after TTT, and 0.05 at 12 months after TTT. At the latest visit, VA improved by 2 levels or more in 13% of the patients, was maintained in 59%, and decreased by 2 levels or more in 28%. The results of ophthalmoscopy or angiography showed that CNV activity was decreased in 50% of patients and increased in 31%. The irradiated areas progressed to chorioretinal atrophy in 6 eyes (19%). In 11 of 26 eyes that underwent ophthalmic examination within 7 days after TTT, macular edema, fluorescein dye leakage from retinal vessels, and/or occlusion of retinal capillaries were seen. They all improved within 1 month after TTT. Conclusions: TTT is one potential treatment for CNV. For optimal use of this therapy, however, further evaluation is needed.