Radiation treatment in age-related macular degeneration

Neovascular AMD is responsible for rapid and severe visual loss in developed countries. Discussed in this chapter are Mechanism of visual loss in wet AMD Classic versus occult CNV and laser photocoagulation The MPS Rationale for using laser in AMD and the results of the MPS New approaches in AMD treatment including surgical removal macular translocation surgery, photodynamic therapy, antiangiogenic drugs, steroid injections, plasmapheresis, and transpupillary thermal therapy Advantages of radiation therapy in AMD including inhibition of diskiform scar formation Toxicity of radiation including retinopathy and optic neuropathy Studies in the past using radiation therapy for AMD including external-beam and plaque radiotherapy Current studies including AMDRT, proton beam, RAD Study group from Germany, British EBR trial, and the Japanese study