MACULAR PHOTOCOAGULATION STUDY

老年性黄斑变性是老年人严重视力丧失的主要原因。 在美国，60岁以上的人。眼组织胞浆菌病可能是第二种 地方性中青年视力丧失的主要原因 区域。在这两种疾病中，视力丧失最常见的原因是并发症 黄斑部的脉络膜新生血管。 黄斑光凝研究(MPS)是一项多中心、随机临床研究 试验旨在回答这样一个问题：是否使用了Ar激光 光凝治疗黄斑中心凹外脉络膜新生血管的价值 在预防视力丧失方面有什么作用？黄斑光凝研究包括 两个子研究：老年性黄斑变性研究和眼科 组织胞浆菌病研究。 符合资格标准并同意参加的患者将 将一只眼睛随机分为两组，一组接受氩激光光凝治疗，另一组“不接受治疗”。 患者将每隔六个月接受一次跟踪，最长可达五年。视觉 敏锐度将用来评估治疗与不治疗的价值。 所有数据将在中央协调中心收集和分析， 所有眼底照片和荧光素血管造影术将在 眼底照片阅读中心。数据监测委员会将评估 执行委员会请秘书处每年对数据进行数次审查，并向执行委员会报告其调查结果。 任何重大发现都将迅速报告给参与研究的患者， 向眼科医生和眼科社区咨询。 将使用每个患者的同眼的临床和摄影数据来 评估与脉络膜发育相关的危险因素 新生血管形成和加深我们对这些疾病自然历史的认识 精神错乱。

Senile macular degeneration is the leading cause of severe visual loss in the United States in people beyond age 60. Ocular histoplasmosis may be the second leading cause of visual loss in young and middle-aged living in the endemic area. In both disorders, visual loss most often results from the complications of choroidal neovascularization in the macula. The Macular Photocoagulation Study (MPS) is a multicenter, randomized clinical trial designed to answer the question: Is the use of argon laser photocoagulation to obliterate extrafoveal choroidal neovascularization of value in preventing visual acuity loss? The Macular Photocoagulation Study consists of two substudies: the Senile Macular Degeneration Study and the Ocular Histoplasmosis Study. Patients who meet the eligibility criteria and who agree to participate will have one eye randomized to argon laser photocoagulation or to "no treatment." Patients will be followed at six-month intervals for up to five years. Visual acuity will be used to assess the value of treatment versus no treatment. All data will be collected and analyzed at a central Coordinating Center, and all fundus photographs and fluorescein angiograms will be interpreted at the Fundus Photograph Reading Center. A Data Monitoring Committee will evaluate data several times per year and report its findings to the Executive Committee. Any significant findings will be reported promptly to participating patients, to referring ophthalmologists, and to the ophthalmic community. Clinical and photographic data of the fellow eye of each patient will be used to evaluate risk factors associated with the development of choroidal neovascularization and to further our knowledge of the natural history of these disorders.