The goal of this prospective study was to evaluate results of the transpupillary thermotherapy (TTT) in the age related macular degeneration (ARMD) where the serous detachment of the pigment epithelium (SDPE) was the dominant sign.
Material and methods: Thirty eyes of 29 patients were treated by TTT. All patients were examined before and 3, 6, 9, 12, 18, and 24 months after TTT in terms of visual acuity (VA), indirect binocular ophthalmoscopy, and indirect slitlamp biomicroscopy, fluorescein angiography, and optic coherent tomography (OCT) of the macular region. In 25 eyes (83,3%) signs of choroidal neovascularization (CNV) were present (vascular SDPE). TTT was performed with a standard technique by diode laser (wavelength 810 nm). In 14 eyes (46.7%) the TTT procedure was repeated after 3 to 38 weeks. The follow-up period was 7 to 28 month (mean 15.2 months).
Results: After TTT, VA improved in 6 eyes (20.0%), remained stable in 8 eyes (26.7%), and deteriorated in 16 eyes (53.3%). Indirect slitlamp biomicroscopy revealed, that the SDPE re-attached in 13 eyes (43.3%), decreased in size in 12 eyes (40.0%); fluorescein leakage disappeared in 16 eyes (53.3%) and was reduced in 10 eyes (33.3%). By OCT, the re-attachment of SDPE was confirmed in 14 eyes (46.7%) and it's reduction in 13 eyes (43.3%). The leading cause of the same or worse VA after diminishing of SDPE was chorioretinal atrophy, with or without subretinal fibrosis.
Conclusion: In the long term, the TTT led to the decline of SDPE in the majority of eyes and improved or stabilized VA in nearly on half of eyes. In most cases, signs of neovascularization were present. After the SDPE regression, the chorioretinal atrophy prevented the better functional results. TTT is not economically expensive and widens treatment possibilities in exsudative form of ARMD including SDPE.