Objective: To evaluate the effectiveness of photodynamic therapy (PDT) in the treatment of idiopathic choroidal neovascularization (CNV).
Methods: Sixty-one cases (61 eyes) of CNV were treated with PDT and the fundus appearance, visual acuity, retina thickness as well as the fundus angiographic imaging were observed before and after the therapy. PDT was performed 1.2 times in average and the follow-up period was 6 - 36 months (mean 19 months).
Results: At the last follow up, the visual acuity was improved in 41 eyes (67.2%), unchanged in 15 eyes (24.6%) and slightly decreased in 5 eyes (8.2%). Macular hemorrhage and exudation reduced in all cases after PDT. Fundus angiography showed complete closure of CNV in 38 eyes (62.3%), partial closure in 4 eyes (6.6%), incomplete closure in 14 eyes (23.0%) and recurrence in 5 eyes (8.2%). In 6 eyes CNV was complete closed after single PDT with diminish of macular edema and neuronal retinal epithelial detachment. No recurrent CNV was observed during three years' follow-up and the visual acuity remained stable. Our results also demonstrated that the therapeutic effect decreased with patient's age (t = 0.476, P = 0.016). The decrease of visual acuity averaged 0.008 per year.
Conclusion: Photodynamic therapy is a potential treatment for idiopathic CNV and better outcomes are achieved in younger patients.