Professional Statements and Societal Positions Guidelines
National Institute of Health and Excellence – 2018
In 2018, the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence updated its 2003 guidance on the use of photodynamic therapy for age-related macular degeneration. The Institute made the following recommendations:
- Recommends against use of photodynamic therapy as monotherapy for late (wet) age-related macular degeneration and against use of photodynamic therapy as first-line adjunctive therapy to antivascular endothelial growth factor therapies for late (wet) age-related macular degeneration
- Recommends for photodynamic therapy as second-line adjunctive therapy to antivascular endothelial growth factor therapies for late (wet) age-related macular degeneration in a trial setting.
American Academy of Ophthalmology – 2019
In 2019, the American Academy of Ophthalmology updated its 2015 preferred practice pattern guideline on age-related macular degeneration. The 2019 update states that verteporfin photodynamic therapy has approval by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for the treatment of age-related macular degeneration-related, predominantly classic, subfoveal choroidal neovascularization.
The 2019 update stated that antivascular endothelial growth factor therapies have become first-line therapy for treating and stabilizing most cases of age-related macular degeneration and suggests that verteporfin photodynamic therapy is rarely needed.
National Comprehensive Cancer Network – 2021
Ocular Photodynamic Therapy
- There is no recommendation to treat uveal melanoma with ocular PDT mentioned in the NCCN guidelines.
Transpupillary Thermotherapy
- Consider additional treatment with resection, laser ablation, transpupillary thermotherapy, or cryotherapy if concerned that adequate response was not achieved from initial radiation.
- For small recurrences in [individuals] who cannot undergo radiation therapy or surgery, transpupillary thermotherapy is recommended.
