Drug treatment of macular degeneration

Abstract

Many new therapies for age-related macular degeneration are under investigation as current treatment options are very limited. Photodynamic therapy is a new, effective and safe treatment for a select group of patients with choroidal neovascularisation associated with age-related macular degeneration. This treatment involves the selective accumulation of a photosensitive dye (verteporfin) within the abnormal vascular tissue rather than the surrounding normal tissue. When light of a specific wavelength is applied to the macula those areas containing greater amounts of dye undergo greater damage. This approach is superior to conventional argon laser photocoagulation where collateral thermal dam..