Abstract
Purpose: :
To compare the therapeutic efficacy of intravitreal bevacizumab to that of photodynamic therapy (PDT) for polypoidal choroidal vasculopathy (PCV).
Methods: :
Intravitreal bevacizumab or PDT was performed on 68 eyes of 68 patients with PCV; 19 eyes were treated by intravitreal bevacizumab (bevacizumab group) and 49 eyes by PDT (PDT group). PCV was diagnosed by fundus examination, fluorescein angiography, and indocyanine green angiography. The best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) in logarithm of the minimum angle of resolution (logMAR) units and OCT-determined central foveal thickness (CRT) were evaluated before and after treatment. For statistical analyses, the Student’s t test and chi-square test were used.
Results: :
The difference in the BCVA, CRT, or greatest linear dimension between the bevacizumab and PDT groups at the baseline was not significant (P=0.9082, P=0.8735, P=0.3911, respectively). Three months after treatment, the logMAR BCVA change from baseline in the PDT group (-0.09±0.20) was significantly better than that in the bevacizumab group (0.03±0.17)(P=0.025). The CRT ratio (3 months/baseline) in the PDT group (0.64±0.25) was significantly better than that in the bevacizumab group (0.85±0.23)(P=0.002). The resolution of polyps at 3 months after treatment was observed in 35 eyes (71%) of the PDT group and 3 eyes (16%) of the bevacizumab group (P<0.0001).
Conclusions: :
The improvement of BCVA and CRT was significantly better in the PDT group than in the bevacizumab group. Thus, PDT may be more effective than intravitreal bevacizumab for the treatment of eyes with PCV.CR: None
Keywords: age-related macular degeneration • photodynamic therapy • cytokines/chemokines