Abstract
Purpose: :
To investigate the 2 year outcome of photodynamic therapy (PDT) for polypoidal choroidal vasculopathy (PCV).
Methods: :
This retrospective study involved 56 eyes of 55 PCV patients followed for at least 24 months after PDT. The best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA), fluorescein and indocyanine green angiographic results, and foveal thicknesses were investigated before and after PDT.
Results: :
The mean number of PDT treatments was 1.6±0.7. Twenty-four eyes (42.9%) required retreatment by PDT because of recurrences. The mean period until the first recurrence was 11.4±7.4 months. The mean BCVA was 0.73±0.20 logMAR units before the initial PDT, 0.65±0.45 logMAR units at 12 months, and 0.75±0.53 logMAR units at 24 months. The mean fovea thickness was 459.4±210.2 µm before the initial PDT, 235.3±177.6 µm at 12 months, and 238.5±189.6 µm at 24 months postoperatively. The BCVA in 41 eyes (73%) did not change (within ±0.2 logMAR units) or improve (>0.2 logMAR units) before and 24 months after PDT. However, the BCVA in 11 eyes (45%) of the 24 eyes that had had a recurrence worsened to >0.2 logMAR units during the 24 months follow-up period.
Conclusions: :
PDT is an effective treatment to preserve VA against PCV. However, approximately 43% of all cases had a recurrence within 24 months, and 11% had the first recurrence 18 months after their first PDT treatment. Once PCV recurred, the VA prognosis worsened significantly. Long-term careful observation is needed for PCV after PDT treatment.
Keywords: age-related macular degeneration