Long-Term Results of High Doses of External Radiotherapy for Age-Related Macular Degeneration with Subfoveal Neovascularization

Age-related macular degeneration (ARMD) is the leading cause of visual loss among patients over 65 in industrialized countries. In it, the most severe visual loss results from onset of choroidal neovascularization (CNV) (Bressler et al 1988). Fluorescein angiography (FA) data reveal three CNV subgroups according to Macular Photocoagulation Study (MPS) guidelines (Macular Photocoagulation Study Group 1996): classic without occult CNV, occult without classic CNV, and mixed (classic CNV associated with occult CNV). All types of CNV can be associated with pigment epithelium detachment (PED). Recently, indocyanine green angiography (ICG) has contributed to better recognition of clinical forms of CNV.