title: Factors influencing visual outcome of polypoidal choroidal vasculopathy one year after photodynamic therapy.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Polypoidal choroidal vasculopathy (PCV) is considered to be a good indication for photodynamic therapy (PDT). We evaluated pre-PDT factors predicting better visual acuity (VA) 1 year after PDT in patients with PCV.
  
  
  METHODS
  We evaluated 181 eyes of 181 patients who underwent PDT and were followed up for 1 year. Additional treatments, if needed, were given every 3 months, with a maximum of four PDT sessions, for up to 9 months. We compared best-corrected VA (BCVA) 1 year after PDT with that before PDT. Pre-PDT factors favoring better BCVA 1 year after PDT were evaluated using stepwise multiple regression analysis.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Mean BCVA improved from 0.29 +/- 0.15 before PDT to 0.43 +/- 0.32 1 year after PDT (p < 0.001). BCVA improved in 55 eyes (30.4%), and was maintained in 110 (60.8%). Pre-PDT factors predicting better BCVA at 1 year were better initial BCVA (beta = 0.271, p < 0.001) within our eligibility criteria up to 0.6, a relatively small diameter of a network of vessels plus polypoidal lesions on indocyanine green angiography (beta = 0.249, p < 0.001), and the absence of a polypoidal lesion under the fovea (beta = 0.175, p = 0.011).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Better BCVA can be expected 1 year after PDT in eyes with PCV showing better initial BCVA, relatively small lesions on indocyanine green angiography, and no subfoveal polypoidal lesion before PDT.
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, Nihon University, School of Medicine, Surugadai Nihon University Hospital, 1-8-13 Surugadai, Kanda, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo, Japan.
authors.forename: Ryusaburo
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Mori
authors.forename: Mitsuko
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Yuzawa
authors.forename: Zeon
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Miho
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Haruyama
authors.forename: Eriko
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Akaza
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002829:Choroid / Q000098:blood supply*; D015862:Choroid Diseases / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology; D004396:Coloring Agents; D005260:Female; D005451:Fluorescein Angiography; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007208:Indocyanine Green; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016491:Peripheral Vascular Diseases / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology; D010778:Photochemotherapy; D041623:Tomography, Optical Coherence; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014792:Visual Acuity / Q000502:physiology*
chemical_list: D004396:Coloring Agents; D007208:Indocyanine Green