AIM: To better reveal the changing process of macula area after photodynamic therapy(PDT), the changes of tomographic imaging on macular fovea optical coherence tomography(OCT)scan at different follow-up time points after treating age-related macular degeneration(AMD)by PDT were investigated.

METHODS: This cohort study included 30 eyes of 26 patients diagnosed as AMD. The dosage of verteporfin was calculated according to manufacturer's instruction. All participants got FFA, ICG, OCT scan and best corrected visual acuity before and followed up for 2wk, 1, 2, 3mo after PDT. The standard five lines combined with 6 lines OCT scan covered key parts of lesion and the scan locations before and after were kept the same. The bilaminar foveal thickness(BFT), outer high reflectivity band thickness(OHRBT), and the total area of intraretinal fluid(IRF)and subretinal fluid(SRF)were measured at different time points. The relationship between the changes and follow up time was analyzed. Statistical analysis of the data was performed using SPSS for windows version 13.0.

RESULTS:There months after treatment, an improvement of 2 lines or better on the Snellen chart was achieved on 22 eyes, visual acuity of 3 eyes without significant change, 3 eyes got decreased, 2 cases lost follow up. The average macular thickness of improved 22 eyes before treatment was 722.5±55.6μm, 2wk after treatment, 708.3±45.3μm, 1mo, 584.4±49.3μm, 2mo, 430.7±50.2μm and 180.6 ±36.3μm at 3mo.The OHRBT before and after treatment respectively were 302.3±50.2μm, 277.5±42.3μm, 202.7±40.1μm, 180.6±35.7μm, 100.8±22.9μm. The total area of both IRF and SRF was estimated as 0.34±0.12mm², 0.25±0.07mm², 0.10±0.05mm², 0.08±0.04mm², 0.05±0.01mm².

CONCLUSION: SRF and retinal edema of patients with AMD were absorbed 1mo after PDT, and the BFT, OHRBT were significantly tend to be thin.