Scatter macular photocoagulation for subfoveal neovascular membranes in age-related macular degeneration. A pilot study.

Forty eyes with age-related macular degeneration and a choroidal neovascular membrane involving the entire foveal avascular zone were enrolled in a pilot study to evaluate an unconventional photocoagulation technique that was postulated to stimulate inhibitors of neovascularization. Eighteen (45%) eyes were treated with extrafoveal scatter macular photocoagulation, and 22 (55%) eyes were treated with this type of photocoagulation and focal extrafoveal ablation of the choroidal neovascular membrane. The eyes were followed for at least 1 year and up to 4 years (average, 2.4 years). One to 7 months after treatment, approximately 45% of the membranes treated with each technique did not leak fluorescein during angiography. The absence of leakage was associated with better visual acuity, but this difference was not statistically significant. At the beginning of the study, the visual acuity was 20/200 or better in 32 eyes (80%) and 20/80 or better in 11 (28%). At the conclusion of the study, the visual acuity was 20/200 or better in 21 eyes (53%) and 20/80 or better in 7 (18%). After treatment, 24 eyes (60%) had the same or better (plus or minus two lines) visual acuities. Compared with eyes in natural history studies, those treated with scatter macular photocoagulation had less visual loss from baseline but did not recover acuity of 20/100 or better more frequently. There was no difference in results between these two methods of treatment.