Authors' objectives:

This report assesses the efficacy of photodynamic therapy (PDT) using verteporfin as a photosensitizer for the treatment of age-related macular degeneration (ARMD). The report also looks at the costs associated with this therapeutic modality and examines, on an exploratory basis, the organization of the care and services involved.

Authors' recommendations: From the evidence accumulated on photodynamic therapy using verteporfin as a photosensitizer we can conclude that this technology is effective in slowing the progression of subfoveal neovascular ARMD with predominantly classic neovascularization or with pure occult neovascularization. Furthermore, the estimated budget impact for a Quebec cohort is acceptable if the improvement in quality of life is taken into account. However, a major reorganization of services and ocular health care should be considered in the near future to permit the optimal implementation of this technology, to reduce waiting times for this treatment and to deal with the demand that will be increasing in the coming years. Furthermore, measures aimed at promoting the early detection of ARMD in the population, both at the individual and primary-care levels, could reduce the risk of severe, irreversible vision loss and thus reduce the social costs of this disease. RECOMMENDATIONS AETMIS recommends that: 1) Photodynamic therapy be considered a technology that can effectively slow the progression of certain forms of ARMD; 2) ARMD be recognized by the policymakers in Quebec's health-care system as an important public health problem; 3) Qubec-based initiatives for the population-based management of ARMD be part of a broader effort to manage preventable blindness; 4) The planning and implementation, in the wake of this report, of the next few steps in the broader context of managing preventable blindness be facilitated by the creation of a task force charged with proposing a concrete plan to the Ministre de la Sante et des Services sociaux; 5) The Vision Network/FRSQ consider the possibility of giving priority to the carrying out of studies evaluating the validity of Amslers grid or other detection tools in the context of ARMD screening; 6) The Vision Network/FRSQ undertake more-thorough studies to determine, with the necessary rigour, the needs relating to the organization of the care and services pertaining to ARMD and preventable blindness in Quebec

Authors' methods: Review

Project Status: Completed

URL for project: http://www.aetmis.gouv.qc.ca/

Year Published: 2004

English language abstract: An English language summary is available

Publication Type: Not Assigned

Country: Canada

Organisation Name: Agence d'évaluation des technologies et des modes d'intervention en santé

Contact Address: 2021, avenue Union, Bureau 10.083,Montreal, Quebec H3A S29, Canada.Tel: +1 514 873 2563; Fax: +1 514 873 1369

Contact Name: demande@inesss.qc.ca

Contact Email: demande@inesss.qc.ca

Copyright: Agence d'Evaluation des Technologies et des Modes d'Intervention en Sante (AETMIS)