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CLOSURE OF EXPERIMENTAL SUBRETINAL NEOVASCULAR VESSELS WITH DIHEMATOPORPHYRIN ETHER AUGMENTED ARGON GREEN LASER PHOTOCOAGULATION
Author(s) -
Thomas Edgar L.,
Langhofer Mikayo
Publication year - 1987
Publication title -
photochemistry and photobiology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.818
H-Index - 131
eISSN - 1751-1097
pISSN - 0031-8655
DOI - 10.1111/j.1751-1097.1987.tb04863.x
Subject(s) - medicine , choroid , neovascularization , ophthalmology , macular degeneration , retina , choroidal neovascularization , visual acuity , neovascular glaucoma , surgery , complication , diabetic retinopathy , angiogenesis , optics , diabetes mellitus , physics , endocrinology
Natural history studies of patients with macular subretinal neovascularization as a complication of age‐related macular degeneration have shown a poor visual outcome, with 77% losing more than 4 lines of vision and 64% losing 6 lines at 24 months after presentation. The Macular Photocoagulation Study, a randomized clinical trial of selected cases of extramacular subretinal neovascularization has proven argon laser photocoagulation therapy to be effective in reducing visual loss. Unfortunately, many patients with macular subretinal neovascularization were excluded from this study because of the risk of laser damage to the surrounding retina and choroid. We have developed a potentially more efficacious and safe treatment for experimental subretinal neovascularization in the cynomolgus monkey using a combination of dihematoporphyrin ether pre‐treatment and sub‐threshold argon green laser photocoagulation. Closure of the subretinal neovascular complex was attained with reduced destruction to the surrounding retina and choroid. Our data have potential import for improved treatment in humans of macular subretinal neovascularization which lie beneath the foveal avascular zone. This preliminary study suggests the photosensitivity of the vasculature of the subretinal neovascular complex to laser photoradiation may be increased selectively by the use of dihematoporphyrin ether.