Authors' objectives:

To provide guidance on the use of photodynamic therapy for age-related macular degeneration.

Authors' recommendations: Guidance: 1.1 Photodynamic therapy (PDT) is recommended for the treatment of wet age-related macular degeneration for individuals who have a confirmed diagnosis of classic with no occult subfoveal choroidal neovascularisation (CNV) (that is, whose lesions are composed of classic CNV with no evidence of an occult component) and best-corrected visual acuity 6/60 or better. PDT should be carried out only by retinal specialists with expertise in the use of this technology. 1.2 PDT is not recommended for the treatment of people with predominantly classic subfoveal CNV (that is, 50% or more of the entire area of the lesion is classic CNV but some occult CNV is present) associated with wet age-related macular degeneration, except as part of ongoing or new clinical studies that are designed to generate robust and relevant outcome data, including data on optimum treatment regimens, long-term outcomes, quality of life and costs. 1.3 The use of PDT in occult CNV associated with wet age-related macular degeneration was not considered because the photosensitising agent (verteporfin) was not licensed for this indication when this appraisal began. No recommendation is made with regard to the use of this technology in people with this form of the condition. 1.4 Patients currently receiving treatment with PDT could experience loss of well-being if their treatment is discontinued at a time they did not anticipate. Because of this, all NHS patients who have begun a course of treatment with PDT at the date of publication of this guidance should have the option of continuing to receive treatment until their clinical condition indicates that it is appropriate to stop.

Authors' methods: Systematic review

Project Status: Completed

URL for project: http://www.nice.org.uk/cat.asp?c=86772

Year Published: 2003

English language abstract: An English language summary is available

Publication Type: Not Assigned

Country: England, United Kingdom

Organisation Name: National Institute for Clinical Excellence

Contact Address: MidCity Place, 71 High Holborn, London WC1V 6NA, UK. Tel: +44 020 7067 5800; Fax: +44 020 7067 5801

Contact Name: nice@nice.nhs.uk

Contact Email: nice@nice.nhs.uk

Copyright: National Institute for Clinical Excellence (NICE)