Radiation therapy in the treatment of exudative age-related macular degeneration

Radiation therapy is a promising modality for the treatment of choroidal neovascularization that characterizes exudative age-related macular degeneration (AMD). Fortunately, there have been several recent advances in the management of exudative AMD, which have improved the clinician's ability to fight this devastating disease. The use of radiation therapy has the potential to further enhance the practitioner's armamentarium against exudative AMD. Studies have examined radiation therapy in the past with mixed results; however, recent technical advances have improved the precision of energy delivery, thereby reducing toxic effects to neighboring tissues, and improving outcomes. The optimal role for radiation as either monotherapy or as combination therapy in the treatment of exudative AMD remains to be defined, pending results of ongoing clinical trials.