Guidelines for Supply Triage During Visudyne (Verteporfin) Shortage

Created on July 16, 2021
Revised September 19, 2025

Visudyne is an essential therapeutic agent for the treatment of specific sight-threatening
retinal and choroidal diseases, including choroidal tumours, anti-VEGF resistant neovascular
age-related macular degeneration (nAMD) and central serous choroidopathy (CSC). There is
an active global shortage of Visudyne, and the next resupply is not expected to be available in
Canada until the end of June 2026 (see: www.drugshortagescanada.ca).

The Canadian Retina Society (CRS) and Canadian Ophthalmological Society (COS) are working
with Health Canada’s Drug Shortages Unit on this issue. Further, the CRS and the COS are
suggesting the following mitigation strategies and suggest that the remaining supply of
Visudyne be prioritized as follows:

• Priority 1: For the full course of treatment and management of sight threatening Ocular Tumours
• Priority 2: For the treatment of non-resolving CSC
• Priority 3: For the treatment of anti-VEGF resistant nAMD

The CRS and COS provide this information for guidance and urge all treating Ophthalmologists
to collaborate with their local and regional oncology and retinal specialist groups to ensure
careful triage of this agent to those patients in most dire need.