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Magnification Requirement after Photodynamic Therapy with Verteporfin for Subfoveal Predominantly Classic Choroidal Neovascularization due to Age-Related Macular Degeneration

Purpose To prospectively assess the magnification requirement after repeat photodynamic therapy (PDT) with verteporfin in patients with predominantly classic subfoveal choroidal neovascularization (CNV) due to age-related macular degeneration (AMD). Methods A total of 103 patients were treated for the first time with PDT between November 1999 and September 2002. These patients were followed up at 3-month intervals for a minimum of 12 months. In addition to the usual investigations undertaken during PDT therapy, the magnification requirement was determined, under standardized conditions, using the SZB test developed by the Swiss Central Association for Blindness. Results A stable lesion with a stable magnification requirement was achieved in 86 (83.5%) patients; these patients were followed up for 24.8 months (range 12 to 36 months). At the time of the last follow-up examination, the magnification requirement compared with baseline was <3 log units higher in 46 patients (53.5%) and ≥3 log units higher in the remaining 40 patients (46.5%). Seventy-four (86%) of these 86 patients had a magnification requirement of ≤8x. Stability was not achieved in 17 (16.5%) patients; up to the last examination these patients had been followed up for 12 to 30 months (mean 20.8). At the time of the most recent examination, 7 (41.2%) patients had a higher magnification requirement of <3 log units while 10 (58.8%) had changed by ≥3 log units. Sixteen patients (94%) had a magnification requirement of ≤8x. Conclusions PDT with verteporfin helps achieve stability without severe impairment in reading ability in most patients with predominantly classic subfoveal CNV due to AMD.