If you would like further information, please ask any of the staff at the clinic. They will be happy to help.

Transcription

1 Photodynamic Therapy Patient Information Ninewells Hospital The aim of this leaflet is to give you some information about Photodynamic Therapy. It contains some useful information on what you can expect during treatment as well as some advice on what you should do before and after treatment. If you would like further information, please ask any of the staff at the clinic. They will be happy to help. What is Photodynamic Therapy (PDT)? Photodynamic Therapy is a treatment for the wet (neovascular) form of agerelated macular degeneration (AMD). It is a combination of: A photosensitive (light-activated) drug called Visudyne A red light produced by a non-thermal laser What does PDT do? The aim of PDT is to reduce the potential for loss of central vision caused by a type of AMD called wet AMD. Visudyne works by destroying abnormal blood vessels that grow behind the retina at the back of your eye. These abnormal vessels leak and bleed, leading to deterioration of the macula. Unlike other treatments for wet AMD, Visudyne therapy uses a non-thermal laser; the light produced by this type of laser does not burn the retina. In the majority of patients, the therapy initially slows down the loss of sight experienced by patients with wet AMD. Thereafter, the majority of patients experience stabilisation of their vision. What should you do to prepare for your therapy? The Visudyne therapy will cause your skin and eyes to become more sensitive to light. Therefore, you must avoid direct sunlight and bright lights for 48 hours after treatment. Page 1 of 5

2 To reduce this sensitivity please bring (or wear) the following items to the eye clinic: Wide brimmed hat and dark sunglasses Suitable footwear Clothing that will fully cover your skin What happens during PDT? You will be given an infusion (slow injection) of the light-activated drug called Visudyne into a vein in your arm. This lasts for ten minutes. If you have had a severe reaction to previous intravenous injections or if you have a strong allergic history, bring this to the attention of your eye doctor. Your eye specialist will then numb your eye with eyedrops and place a special contact lens on your eye. Shortly after this, a red light will be directed through the contact lens and onto the affected area of the retina. The light is applied for exactly 83 seconds. Because a non-thermal laser produces the red light there is no heating or burning. At the end of the treatment you will be given a green bracelet to wear for 48 hours. This is a precaution and is intended to remind you and other health care professionals that you have received Visudyne and undergone PDT. What are the side effects of PDT? All treatments have a risk and some patients experience adverse reactions to PDT these include: Injection site reactions such as pain, swelling, inflammation, leakage into the area surrounding the vein, bleeding at the site and hypersensitivity. Blurred vision and other visual disturbances. Back pain during infusion (around 2.2% of patients report back pain). Severe vision decrease (occurs in 1% - 4% of patients). Page 2 of 5

3 Please speak to your eye specialist if you experience any of these effects after therapy. What should you do following PDT? Visudyne will cause your skin and eyes to become more sensitive to light. Therefore you must avoid direct sunlight and bright lights for 48 hours immediately after treatment. Bright lights include but are not limited to: Stay away from undraped windows or skylights for 48 hours and do not rely on UV sunscreens to protect against photosensitivity; they will not be effective. Halogen lighting in homes and offices, including bright halogen lamps and reading lamps. After PDT you may have some vision problems. If this happens, you should not drive or use machinery until your vision improves. Can I go outside? If you do go out during daylight hours within the first 48 hours following treatment, it is important that you wear: Wide brimmed hat Dark sunglasses Long sleeved shirt and trousers Socks and shoes After 48 hours, you may resume normal outdoor activities without any special precautions. Page 3 of 5

4 You should not stay in the dark. In fact, exposing your skin to indoor light helps to inactivate any remaining drug in the skin. You may have some blurring of vision in the 48 hours following treatment, but this is usually short lived. Further appointments PDT normally involves more than one treatment to permanently close the leaking blood vessels. Your eye doctor will normally ask you to come back to the clinic every three months to assess your eyes. He/she will usually check your vision, take some pictures of your eye and carry out a dye test (fluorescein angiography) to determine if another treatment would be beneficial. You can expect to receive further treatment as your doctor feels necessary. Important Information Please carry this leaflet with you in case of an emergency. Name of Ophthalmologist: Dr P Johnstone / Dr J Vallance Eye Department Nurses contact number: Telephone: Additional Information: Macular Disease Society Helpline: RNIB: Helpline: Page 4 of 5

5 Contact numbers: Ninewells Hospital Eye Outpatient Department Telephone: Eye Outpatient Nurses Telephone: Clinic opening times: Monday Thursday, 8.30am 5pm Friday, 8.30am 2pm Ward hours, 7 days a week Telephone: Developed by medical and nursing staff and has been reviewed by patients Reviewed: 01/2018 Review: 01/2020 LN1026 Page 5 of 5