Authors' objectives:

This study aims to assess the effects of photodynamic phototherapy (including verteporfin) on people with neovascular age related macular degeneration.

Authors' recommendations: High-quality studies have found that verteporfin photodynamic phototherapy can help slow vision loss for up to two years in patients with neovascular age-related macular degeneration. However, therapy itself may cause visual disturbance, including loss of acuity and visual field loss. Other less common adverse effects included back pain following injection of the verteporfin, and photosensitivity reactions. The subgroup analyses should be treated with caution, particularly since the results appear to conflict demonstrating benefit for patients lesions with predominantly classic neovascularisation or occult lesions with deteriorating vision, but not for those with a mixed pattern (minimally classic). We found no evidence on the effect of therapy on patients daily activities or registration for disability allowances. Long-term follow-up of the patients in these studies is required to determine the frequency of retreatment needed and whether vision remains stable. Verteporfin phototherapy offers a way to reduce vision deterioration in wet (neovascular) age-related macular degeneration, but the treatment requires high-quality fluoroscein angiograms, and clinicians experienced in assessing different lesions and hence candidates who will most likely benefit. Furthermore no cost-effectiveness studies have yet been performed, even though the widespread introduction of verteporfin may be costly, since age-related macular degeneration is one of the commonest causes of blindness.

Authors' methods: Review

Project Status: Completed

URL for project: http://www.wihrd.soton.ac.uk

Year Published: 2001

English language abstract: An English language summary is available

Publication Type: Not Assigned

Country: England

Organisation Name: Wessex Institute for Health Research and Development

Contact Address: Pauline King. Wessex Institute for Health Research and Development, Boldrewood Medical School, Bassett Crescent East, Highfield, Southampton. SO16 7PX Tel. +44 1703 595661 Fax +44 1703 595662

Copyright: Bazian Ltd, Wessex Institute for Health Research and Development