Conclusions
The long-term visual prognosis of CNV in myopic patients is very poor after natural history and also laser treatment does not appear to be effective on a long-term basis. Many prospective clinical studies have shown that PDT with verteporfin is effective in preserving vision loss of patients with subfoveal and juxtafoveal myopic CNV that is not amenable with laser photocoagulation. Results can vary depending on patients' age and baseline VA. In fact, younger patients and patients with higher baseline VA may have a better treatment outcome.
Based on the new scientific progress achieved in the past few years, it is possible that today's patients with myopic macular degeneration complicated by CNV may profit from a new ophthalmic frontier of pharmacologic therapy that includes intravitreal injections of anti-VEGF drugs. However, clinical evaluation in a multicenter, randomized, placebo-controlled trial with longer follow-up is needed to define more clearly the efficacy and safety of this new modality of treatment.
Expert Rev Ophthalmol. 2008;3(3):311-323. © 2008 Expert Reviews Ltd.
Comments