PERIFOVEAL LASER TREATMENT FOR SUBFOVEAL CHOROIDAL NEOVASCULARIZATIONIN AGE-RELATED MACULAR DEGENERATION

The management of subfoveal choroidal neovascularization (CNV) seconda ry to age-related macular degeneration presents a major therapeutic di lemma. No treatment may lead to severe visual loss, and direct laser t reatment to the entire subfoveal lesion results in acute loss of visua l acuity. Encouraging results have been described with a foveal-sparin g laser technique for subfoveal CNV. The authors performed perifoveal confluent laser treatment on a relatively well-defined occult CNV, spa ring the foveal avascular zone. One month after treatment, the visual acuity had improved from 20/400 to 20/30. At 24 months, the visual acu ity was 20/40 with no recurrence. Confluent perifoveal laser treatment for subfoveal CNV may be useful in preserving central visual acuity i n selected patients.