Intravitreal anti-vascular endothelial growth factor therapy versus photodynamic therapy for idiopathic choroidal neovascularization.

PURPOSE: To compare visual outcomes after intravitreal anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) injection or photodynamic therapy (PDT) for idiopathic choroidal neovascularization (CNV).

DESIGN: Retrospective study.

METHODS: Among 29 eyes (28 patients), 15 eyes (15 patients) received anti-VEGF therapy and 14 eyes (13 patients) received PDT. Best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA, logMAR [logarithm of minimal angle of resolution]) at baseline and 1, 3, 6, 12, and 24 months after initial treatment were compared. The eyes were classified by BCVA changes: improved (improvement ≥0.3 logMAR), decreased (deterioration ≥0.3 logMAR), and stable.

RESULTS: Mean BCVA was 0.56 ± 0.38 logMAR (20/72 in Snellen equivalent) in the PDT group and 0.44 ± 0.59 logMAR (20/55 in Snellen equivalent) in the anti-VEGF group at baseline (P = .104, Mann-Whitney U test). The anti-VEGF group showed significantly better mean BCVA at each follow-up visit when compared with that of PDT (P = .004 at 1 month, P = .002 at 3 months, P = .037 at 6 months, P = .031 at 12 months, and P = .049 at 24 months; Mann-Whitney U test, respectively). When compared with the baseline, mean BCVA at each follow-up visit was better in the anti-VEGF group (P = .196 at 1 month, P = .007 at 3 months, P = .046 at 6 months, P = .046 at 12 months, and P = .049 at 24 months; Wilcoxon signed rank test, respectively), whereas BCVA in the PDT group was not. At 24 months, all eyes (100.0%) treated with anti-VEGF showed stable or improved BCVA, whereas 3 eyes (21.3%) showed visual deterioration after PDT.

CONCLUSIONS: Anti-VEGF therapy was superior to PDT for idiopathic CNV, and superior efficacy was sustained until 24 months.