title: Three-year follow-up results of photodynamic therapy for polypoidal choroidal vasculopathy.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the visual outcomes and changes in abnormal vascular networks and polypoidal lesions of polypoidal choroidal vasculopathy (PCV) 3 years after photodynamic therapy (PDT).
  
  
  METHODS
  We studied 43 eyes of 43 patients with PCV for 3 years. Fundus appearance, fluorescein angiography (FA) and indocyanine green angiography (IA) findings, and visual acuity (VA) before the initial PDT were compared with those 3 months, 1 year, 2 years, and 3 years after treatment.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In 24 of the 43 eyes, enlargement of the abnormal vascular network continued in a manner similar to that before PDT on IA; in eight eyes, transformation into polypoidal choroidal neovascularization (CNV) with enlargement was detected; and two eyes had the appearance of classic CNV on FA. Polypoidal lesions recurred at 3 years in 33 of the 43 eyes (77%). Mean VA (logarithm of the minimum angle of resolution) of all 43 eyes decreased to below baseline at 3 years after the initial PDT. This decrease can be explained by foveal atrophy after absorption of recurrent hemorrhagic or exudative detachment.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Long-term visual outcomes were not good owing to the high frequency of recurrent polypoidal lesions, as well as enlargement and neovascular changes involving abnormal vascular networks.
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, Nihon University Surugadai Hospital, Tokyo, Japan. merryeriko@hotmail.com
authors.forename: Eriko
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Akaza
authors.forename: Mitsuko
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Yuzawa
authors.forename: Ryusaburo
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Mori
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002829:Choroid / Q000098:blood supply*; D015862:Choroid Diseases / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology; D020256:Choroidal Neovascularization / Q000503:physiopathology; 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; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014792:Visual Acuity / Q000502:physiology
chemical_list: D007208:Indocyanine Green