Professional paper
Brachytherapy – Optional Treatment for Choroidal Neovascularization Secondary to Age-Related Macular Degeneration
B. Šarić
J. Šikić
D. Katušić
N. Vukojević
Abstract
Age-related macular degeneration (ARMD) presents the main cause of irreversible
loss of central vision in older population, due to a progressive neuroretinal damage and
damage of retinal pigment epithelium of foveal area. This observation emphasizes the
insufficiency of all presently used therapeutic procedures. Therefore, investigation has
been conducted at the University Eye Clinic Zagreb for the last three years testing the effects
of brachytherapy with direct episcleral application of ruthenium applicators to the
posterior pole of the globe. Forty-two patients aged 58–79 were followed for a min. of 12
months. During this period their central visual acuities remained stable. Six patients
showed one-line improvement of visual acuity and 8 patients showed no changes.
Twenty-one patient lost 1–2 lines of visual acuity and 7 patients lost more than 2 lines.
According to this we can conclude that patients treated with brachytherapy showed significantly
better results compared to the control subjects, which is very encouraging.
Keywords
Hrčak ID:
28491
URI
Publication date:
23.7.2001.
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