Vision through photodynamic therapy of the eye

Abstract

Photodynamic therapy of conditions of the eye, especially those conditions characterized by unwanted neovasculature, such as age-related macular degeneration, results in enhanced visual acuity for treated subjects.

1 . An aqueous composition comprising a green porphyrin and a low-density lipoprotein component of plasma. 
     
     
         2 . A method of delivering a green porphyrin to a site of neovasculature in a human subject, said method comprising use of a low-density lipoprotein component of plasma comprising a green porphyrin. 
     
     
         3 . A method of treating choroidal neovasculature in a human subject, which method comprises:
 irradiating said subject's ocular tissue containing said neovasculature with light absorbed by a photoactive compound, and   repeating said irradiating of ocular tissue at least once,   wherein said subject has been administered the photoactive compound before each irradiating of ocular tissue;   wherein the wavelength of the light is absorbed by the photoactive compound; and   wherein said irradiation is conducted for a time and at an intensity sufficient to treat said choroidal neovasculature.   
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 3  wherein the photoactive compound is a green porphyrin, a hematoporphyrin derivative, a chlorin, or a phlorin. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 4  wherein said green porphyrin is of the formula 
       
         
           
           
               
               
           
         
         wherein each of R 1  and R 2  is independently selected from the group consisting of carbalkoxyl (2-6C), alkyl (1-6C), arylsulfonyl (6-10C), cyano and —CONR 5 CO— wherein R 5  is aryl (6-10C) or alkyl (1-6C); 
         each R 3  is independently carboxyl, carboxyalkyl (2-6C) or a salt, amide, ester or acyl hydrazone thereof, or is alkyl (1-6C); 
         R 4  is CH═CH 2  or —CH(OR 4′ )CH 3  wherein R 4′  is H, or alkyl (1-6C) optionally substituted with a hydrophilic substituent. 
       
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 3  wherein said irradiation is administered at an irradiance of about 600 mW/cm 2  to provide a total fluence of 50 J/cm 2 -150 J/cm 2  of said light. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 3  wherein said repeating is at two weeks following an initial irradiating of ocular tissue. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 3  wherein said repeating is at six weeks following an initial irradiating of ocular tissue. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 3  wherein said subject has been diagnosed with age-related macular degeneration (AMD). 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 3  wherein the subject has been diagnosed with a condition selected from the group consisting of macular degeneration, ocular histoplasmosis syndrome, myopia, and inflammatory diseases.