Photodynamic Therapy in Occult-Only Lesions (POOL)

An Open-Label, Multicenter, Phase 4 Study of the Effect of Verteporfin for Injection Therapy in Subjects With Occult With No Classic Choroidal NeoVascularization Secondary to Age-Related Macular Degeneration

Age related macular degeneration is the leading cause of blindness for people over 50 in the western world. Blood vessels which start to grow form a lesion in the back of the eye. Verteporfin may stabilize the disease, by closing the blood vessels. This study will assess the efficacy and safety of verteporfin in patients with occult only lesions.

Inclusion Criteria:

• 50 years or older
• Must see better or equal to 34 letters (visual acuity)
• Choroidal neovascularization (CNV) lesion must be occult only

Exclusion Criteria:

• Evidence of classic CNV in the lesion
• Prior treatment of disease in study eye
• Have a history of moderate to severe hepatic impairment

Other protocol-defined exclusion criteria may apply.