The first treatment for wet AMD involved laser photocoagulation. Until the advent of anti-VEGF agents, ophthalmologists traditionally used thermal laser destruction of CNV as the primary treatment of exudative AMD. Today, thermal laser photocoagulation is usually reserved for CNV outside the fovea and for treatment of variants of exudative AMD, including retinal angiomatous proliferation and polypoidal choroidal vasculopathy.
To avoid creating a central blinding scotoma when treating subfoveal CNV with thermal laser, clinicians turned to photodynamic therapy. In April 2000, the FDA approved PDT with verteporfin for use in patients with predominantly classic, subfoveal CNV caused by AMD.
VEGF inhibitors are a relatively recent advance in the treatment of wet AMD. In 2004, pegaptanib was the first VEGF antagonist to be approved by the FDA for use in wet AMD.
Learn more about laser treatments for wet AMD.
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Cite this: F. Ryan Prall. Fast Five Quiz: Exudative (Wet) Age-Related Macular Degeneration Management - Medscape - Nov 05, 2020.
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