title: Two-year outcome after combination therapy for polypoidal choroidal vasculopathy: comparison with photodynamic monotherapy and anti-vascular endothelial growth factor monotherapy.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To compare treatment outcomes of photodynamic therapy (PDT), anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) therapy and PDT combined with anti-VEGF therapy for polypoidal choroidal vasculopathy (PCV).
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 62 eyes of 62 patients who had completed at least 2 years of follow-up were retrospectively reviewed; 19 eyes received PDT only, 23 had anti-VEGF therapy only and 20 underwent combination therapy. Best-corrected visual acuity at baseline and each follow-up visit was investigated as a primary outcome measure.
  
  
  RESULTS
  At year 2, the PDT and combination groups maintained significant visual improvement (p = 0.041 and p = 0.021), whereas the anti-VEGF group failed to do so (p = 0.673) when compared with the baseline. The combination group showed better visual outcome during follow-up, and significantly better visual outcome than the PDT group (p = 0.038) and the anti-VEGF group (p = 0.012) at year 2.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Combination therapy leads to significantly better visual outcome than PDT and anti-VEGF monotherapy and is therefore a superior method for treating PCV, with a favorable visual outcome.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Vision Research, Department of Ophthalmology, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Hae Min
authors.initials: HM
authors.lastname: Kang
authors.forename: Hyoung Jun
authors.initials: HJ
authors.lastname: Koh
mesh_terms: D020533:Angiogenesis Inhibitors / Q000008:administration & dosage; D061067:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D000068258:Bevacizumab; D002829:Choroid / Q000098:blood supply; D015862:Choroid Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy*; D005451:Fluorescein Angiography; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D005654:Fundus Oculi; D007262:Infusions, Intravenous; D058449:Intravitreal Injections; D010778:Photochemotherapy / Q000379:methods*; D017319:Photosensitizing Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage; D011166:Porphyrins / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013997:Time Factors; D041623:Tomography, Optical Coherence; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors*; D000077362:Verteporfin; D014792:Visual Acuity
chemical_list: D020533:Angiogenesis Inhibitors; D061067:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized; D017319:Photosensitizing Agents; D011166:Porphyrins; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A; D000077362:Verteporfin; D000068258:Bevacizumab