Verteporfin (trade name Visudyne ), a benzoporphyrin derivative, is a medication used as a photosensitizer for photodynamic therapy to eliminate the abnormal blood vessels in the eye associated with conditions such as the wet form of macular degeneration . more

Verteporfin (trade name Visudyne ), a benzoporphyrin derivative, is a medication used as a photosensitizer for photodynamic therapy to eliminate the abnormal blood vessels in the eye associated with conditions such as the wet form of macular degeneration . Verteporfin accumulates in these abnormal blood vessels and, when stimulated by nonthermal red light with a wavelength of 693 nm in the presence of oxygen , produces highly reactive short-lived singlet oxygen and other reactive oxygen radicals , resulting in local damage to the endothelium and blockage of the vessels. less