PHOTODYNAMIC THERAPY FOR THE EYE

Course overview

PHOTODYNAMIC THERAPY IS AN FDA APPROVED INDICATION FOR ACTINIC KERATOSES AND HAS THE ADVANTAGE OF PROVIDING BETTER COSMETIC OUTCOMES WITH LESS PAIN AND PRESERVATION OF NORMAL TISSUE. PHOTODYNAMIC THERAPY IS ALSO PUT INTO USE FOR SEVERAL PATHOLOGIES IN THE EYE. THIS ACTIVITY REVIEWS THE USE OF PHOTODYNAMIC THERAPY AND ADDRESSES THE ROLE OF THE INTERPROFESSIONAL TEAM IN PERFORMING THIS PROCEDURE AND PROVIDING AFTERCARE. THIS ACTIVITY DESCRIBES THE PRINCIPLES AND TECHNIQUES OF PHOTODYNAMIC THERAPY, WHICH INVOLVES THE USE OF A TOPICAL PHOTOSENSITIZER, FOLLOWED BY THE APPLICATION OF SPECIFIC WAVELENGTHS OF LIGHT TO ACTIVATE THE SAME AND, IN TURN, INDUCE SELECTIVE TISSUE DESTRUCTION. THIS ACTIVITY OUTLINES THE INDICATIONS AND CONTRAINDICATIONS OF PHOTODYNAMIC THERAPY. IT ALSO INCLUDES THE TECHNIQUE OF PROVIDING PHOTODYNAMIC THERAPY AS WELL AS THE COMPLICATIONS THAT CAN OCCUR POST-PROCEDURE.