Outcome of photocoagulation for age-related macular degeneration

We reviewed the result of photocoagulation in 66 eyes of 66 cases of age-related macular degeneration during 5 years through 1997. All the cases were followed up for 6 months or longer after dye laser photocoagulation at the wavelength of 595 nm. The visual acuity improved in 14 eyes(21%), remained unchanged in 29 eyes(44%) and deteriorated in 23 eyes (35%). Final visual acuity was significantly better when the choroidal neovascularization was smaller than one disc area. It was unfavorable when associated with detachment of retinal pigment epithelium or subretinal proliferation. It tended to be better when the distance between the fovea and the neovascularization was greater than 500 μm. The outcome was independent of age, visual acuity at the time of treatment, duration after photocoagulation, or interval between onset of visual impairment and treatment.