Data from: Corneal laser procedure for vision improvement in patients with late stage dry age-related macular degeneration

Purpose: To determine the safety and efficacy of corneal
photovitrification (CPV), a new corneal laser procedure, for vision
improvement in patients with late-stage dry age-related macular
degeneration (AMD). Design: Retrospective observational cohort
study Participants: 32 eyes of 17 patients with late-stage dry
AMD; each eye received a single CPV corneal laser procedure and had 12
months (12m) post-treatment (Tx) follow-up. Methods: Pre- and post-Tx
examinations included slit-lamp biomicroscopy, subjective manifest
refraction, best corrected distance and near visual acuity (BCDVA and
BCNVA), and potential visual acuity (PVA). Additional examinations
including contrast sensitivity (CS), corneal topography (CT), ray tracing
aberrometry (RTA) and microperimetry (MP) were obtained for a subgroup
(n=12) of eyes. Main Outcome Measures: BCDVA, BCNVA, PVA, CS, CT,
RTA and MP measurements Results: Safety - There were no
complications or adverse events.   Efficacy – Mean (±
SD) BCDVA improved significantly (p < 0.004) from 20/238 (1.08
logMAR) at baseline to 20/144 (0.86 logMAR) at 12m post-Tx corresponding
to 11.0 (± 13.1) letters gained.  Mean contrast sensitivity
improved significantly (p < 0.05) by a factor of 1.86 from baseline
at 12m post-Tx. Conclusions: Subject to the limitation of a small
sample size, this pilot study indicates that the CPV corneal laser
procedure is safe and efficacious for vision improvement in patients with
late-stage dry AMD.  The CPV Tx mechanism of action involves
retinal irradiance distribution modifications that may stimulate patient
use of functional, rather than atrophied, retinal regions.