Purpose: To evaluate the determinants of patient satisfaction with photodynamic therapy (PDT) for neovascular age-related macular degeneration (AMD) or polypoidal choroidal vasculopathy (PCV).
Methods: Questionnaires were mailed to 69 patients who had undergone PDT for AMD or PCV at the Kobe City General Hospital. The questionnaire considered the following parameters: subjective change in visual acuity, subjective change in the relative scotoma in central vision, subjective change in visual distortion, and patient satisfaction with PDT scored on a 100-point scale.
Results: Nine patients (14%) reported their subjective visual acuity change as "significantly improved" and 21 (32%) as "slightly improved"; 18 (27%) reported "no change"; 12 (18%) reported their visual acuity as "slightly worsened"; and 6 (9%) as "significantly worsened." Subjective change in the central scotoma was reported improved in 43 patients (64%) and visual distortion had improved subjectively in 31 patients (47%). The satisfaction score was 59 +/- 25 in patients who had undergone PDT for AMD and 75 +/- 24 in those with PCV. Not only the visual acuity change but also the subjective change in central scotoma and visual distortion correlated significantly with the satisfaction score.
Conclusions: More patients who have undergone PDT for AMD or PCV perceive improvement in central scotoma and visual distortion than in visual acuity. Since these subjective changes correlated significantly with the satisfaction score, subjective change in central scotoma and visual distortion, in addition to visual acuity, should be taken into account in evaluating the benefits of PDT.