Abstract
Purpose: :
To evaluate the recurrence rate after photodynamic therapy (PDT) or intravitreal injections of anti-VEGF for polypoidal choroidal vasculopathy (PCV).
Methods: :
We retrospectively reviewed the medical records of 31 patients (31 eyes) with PCV which were followed up more than 2 years either after PDT and/or anti-VEGF. Baseline characteristics including visual acuity and recurrence rate were analyzed according to the treatment modality.
Results: :
Of the 31 eyes, 16 were treated with anti-VEGF monotherapy and 15 were treated with combination of PDT with anti-VEGF. Mean follow-up was 32.4 ± 6.9 months. Initial time until macular dryness was 10.6 months in the anti-VEGF and 8.3 months in the combination group. Six eyes had persistent leakage without achieving dryness throughout follow-up period. Recurrence was noted in 20 eyes (80%), 100% in the anti-VEGF and 64% in the combination group. A Kaplan-Meier survival analysis showed higher recurrence rates in the anti-VEGF group than in the combination group (p=0.01). Mean time to recurrence was 8.7 months, 5.1 months in the anti-VEGF and 13.1 months in the combination group.
Conclusions: :
Recurrence rate of PCV was less, and time of recurrence after initial resolution of fluid was longer in the combination group than anti-VEGF monotherapy.
Keywords: age-related macular degeneration • photodynamic therapy • injection