CLINICAL-EXPERIENCE WITH INTERFERON ALFA-2A FOR EXUDATIVE AGE-RELATEDMACULAR DEGENERATION

There has been recent interest in the use of systemic interferon alfa- 2a treatment for choroidal neovascular membranes (CNV). Here a pilot s tudy is reported in which 10 patients with exudative age-related macul ar degeneration (ARMD) have been treated with a course of interferon i njections. Of nine eyes with CNV there has been clinical and angiograp hic improvement in one eye and maintenance of visual acuity at pretrea tment levels in three eyes (mean follow up period 7.6 months). Clinica l appearance in five eyes was unchanged but these eyes still had activ e CNV. Two eyes with pigment epithelial detachment showed no clinical or angiographic change after interferon therapy although visual acuity in one eye had improved. Interferon alfa-2a may have a role to play i n the treatment of ARMD as an adjunct to laser photocoagulation.