Claims for Patent: 5,756,541

Summary for Patent: 5,756,541

Title:	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,
Inventor(s):	Strong; H. Andrew (North Van., CA), Levy; Julia (Vancouver, CA), Huber; Gustav (Zurich, CH), Fsadni; Mario (Buelach, CH)
Assignee:	QLT Phototherapeutics Inc (Vancouver, CA)
Application Number:	08/613,420
Patent Claims:	1. A method to improve visual acuity in a human subject, which method comprises: irradiating target ocular tissue in said subject with light emitted from a laser, wherein said subject has been administered a formulation of a photoactive compound sufficient to permit an effective amount to localize in said target ocular tissue; wherein the wavelength of the radiation is absorbed by the photoactive compound; and wherein said radiation is conducted for a time and at an intensity sufficient to improve visual acuity in said subject. 2. The method of claim 1 wherein said irradiation is administered at an irradiance of about 600 mW/cm.sup.2 to provide a total fluence of 50 J/cm.sup.2 -150 J/cm.sup.2 of said light. 3. The method of claim 1 wherein said irradiation is administered beginning about 20-30 minutes after said subject has been administered said formulation. 4. The method of claim 1 wherein the eye of said subject contains unwanted neovasculature. 5. The method of claim 4 wherein the neovasculature is choroidal neovasculature. 6. The method of claim 1 wherein the photoactive agent is a green porphyrin, a hematoporphyrin derivative, a chlorin, or a phlorin. 7. The method of claim 6 wherein said photoactive compound is a green porphyrin. 8. The method of claim 7 wherein said green porphyrin is of the formula ##STR1## wherein each of R.sup.1 and R.sup.2 is independently selected from the group consisting of carbalkoxyl (2-6 C), alkyl (1-6 C), arylsulfonyl (6-10 C), cyano and --CONR.sup.5 CO-- wherein R.sup.5 is aryl (6-10 C) or alkyl (1-6 C); each R.sup.3 is independently carboxyl, carboxyalkyl (2-6 C) or a salt, amide, ester or acyl hydrazone thereof, or is alkyl (1-6 C); R.sup.4 is CH.dbd.CH.sub.2 or --CH(OR.sup.4')CH.sub.3 wherein R.sup.4' is H, or alkyl (1-6 C) optionally substituted with a hydrophilic substituent. 9. The method of claim 8 wherein said green porphyrin is of the formula ##STR2## wherein each of R.sup.1 and R.sup.2 is independently carbalkoxyl (2-6 C); one R.sup.3 is carboxyalkyl (2-6 C) and the other R.sup.3 is the ester of a carboxyalkyl (2-6 C) substituent; and R.sup.4 is CH.dbd.CH.sub.2 or --CH(OH)CH.sub.3. 10. The method of claim 9 wherein said green porphyrin is of the formula ##STR3## and wherein R.sup.1 and R.sup.2 are methoxycarbonyl; one R.sup.3 is --CH.sub.2 CH.sub.2 COOCH.sub.3 and the other R.sup.3 is CH.sub.2 CH.sub.2 COOH; and R.sup.4 is CH.dbd.CH.sub.2; i.e., BPD-MA. 11. The method of claim 1 wherein said formulation contains said photoactive agent complexed with low-density lipoprotein. 12. The method of claim 1 wherein said formulation is a liposomal preparation. 13. The method of claim 1 wherein said subject has been diagnosed with age-related macular degeneration (AMD). 14. The method of claim 1 wherein the subject has been diagnosed with a condition selected from the group consisting of macular degeneration, ocular histoplasmosis syndrome, myopia, and inflammatory diseases.