Visudyne® (verteporfin for injection) therapy for wet AMD | Visudyne (verteporfin for injection) therapy for AMD

For US Residents Only

About AMD
AMD Warning Signs
Treating AMD
Visudyne
- How Visudyne Works
- Receiving Treatment
- What to Expect
Support for Low Vision
Caregiving
Common Questions
Helpful Resources

After Visudyne therapy your eyes and skin will be sensitive to bright light and direct sunlight for 5 days.

You should avoid the following:

Bright sunlight
Lighting used in dentists' offices or surgical operating rooms
Tanning salons
Halogen lighting in homes and offices, including halogen reading lamps
Undraped windows with direct sunlight
Skylights
Pulse oxygen monitors

Although you will be sensitive to light after therapy, you should not stay in the dark. Exposing your skin to normal indoor light helps to remove the drug from the skin. Five days after completing Visudyne therapy, you may resume normal outdoor activities without any special precautions.

During routine follow-up, you will have another eye examination:

Pictures will be taken of your eyes to confirm abnormal vessels are sealed
If the pictures show that there is more leakage, additional therapy will be necessary
Visudyne therapy usually consists of a series of sessions

Many organizations offer information about low vision counseling, training, and other special services. Click here to find out about some of them.

Is Visudyne for me?

Visudyne is a treatment to help slow the loss of vision in persons with predominantly classic wet AMD.

Important Safety Information

Visudyne therapy is not for everyone. People who have an abnormal sensitivity to light (a condition called porphyria) and those with allergies to any of the ingredients should not receive Visudyne. (Your doctor has a list of ingredients in Visudyne.) Check with your doctor or healthcare professional to see if you might be allergic to any component of Visudyne therapy. Only your doctor can determine if Visudyne is right for you.

Between 1% and 5% of patients experienced a substantial decrease in vision in the first 7 days after treatment, though some patients achieved partial recovery. Patients who experience substantial vision loss should consult their ophthalmologist or retinal specialist immediately. The most commonly reported adverse events (10-30%) were injection site reactions, temporary back pain during injection, changes in vision, including blurring, decreased sharpness in vision, and gaps in vision.

Patients should avoid direct sunlight or bright indoor light for 5 days following therapy with Visudyne.

Patients who have to go outdoors in daylight after treatment must protect all parts of their skin and eyes by wearing protective clothing and dark glasses. Ultraviolet (UV) sunscreens are not effective in protecting against photosensitivity reactions.