EFFICACY OF COMBINED PHOTODYNAMIC THERAPY AND INTRAVITREAL BEVACIZUMAB INJECTION VERSUS PHOTODYNAMIC THERAPY ALONE IN POLYPOIDAL CHOROIDAL VASCULOPATHY

Abstract

To compare the efficacy of combined photodynamic therapy (PDT) and optical coherence tomography-guided intravitreal bevacizumab injection versus PDT alone for the treatment of polypoidal choroidal vasculopathy. The medical records of 39 patients with symptomatic polypoidal choroidal vasculopathy who received combination therapy with PDT and intravitreal bevacizumab injections or PDT monotherapy were retrospectively reviewed. Best-corrected visual acuity, number of treatments, and optical coherence tomography and angiographic findings were compared between the two patient groups. In the PDT monotherapy group (n = 19), the mean number of PDTs was 1.89, whereas in the combined therapy group (n = 20), mean 1.30 times of PDT and 2.90 times of intravitreal bevacizumab injection were performed during the 12 months of follow-up. The number of PDTs was significantly different between the 2 groups (P = 0.032). At 12 months, the mean improvement in best-corrected visual acuity was 3.0 lines in the combined group and 1.6 lines in the PDT monotherapy group. At 12 months, improved vision by ≥ 3 lines was achieved in 55.0% in the combined therapy group and 36.8% in the PDT monotherapy group. Combined PDT and bevacizumab therapy effectively treated polypoidal choroidal vasculopathy with fewer PDTs compared with PDT alone during the 1 year of follow-up. Combined treatment appeared to result in better visual acuity, but a larger scale study is required to draw a definite conclusion.