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Published: 2002

Total Pages: 40

ISBN-13: 9781894620635

Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is a disease that causes loss of vision and can lead to central blindness in some patients. Loss of vision from AMD is permanent and has a significant impact on an individual's functioning and quality of life. Currently, there are no effective treatments for the majority of individuals with AMD. Verteporfin photodynamic therapy (PDT) a new treatment for "wet" AMD, the type of AMD responsible for more pronounced vision loss. Evidence from three high-quality RCTs suggests that, compared with placebo, verteporfin PDT treatment for two years reduces the number of cases of central blindness. However, these results apply to a study population with subfoveal neovascularization from AMD, and only a minority of these individuals is likely to qualify for treatment after diagnosis and angiographic assessment. Verteporfin PDT is likely to increase the need for angiographic screening. Treatment is not aimed at restoring vision and the majority of treated individuals will continue to lose visual acuity. Compared to placebo (angiography and sham treatment), verteporfin did not cause an overall increase in serious adverse events and appears to be reasonably well tolerated. The direct impact of this treatment on quality of life and visual function is not known. The two-year incremental costs for this procedure in Canada based on RCT evidence are estimated to be between $10,625 and $14,250.