title: Long-Term Outcomes of Anti-Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Therapy for Polypoidal Choroidal Vasculopathy.
abstract: To investigate a clinical outcome after more than 4 years for polypoidal choroidal vasculopathy (PCV) treated with anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) therapy and to investigate the factors predictive of long-term visual outcomes.
  
  
  
  This retrospective study included 31 eyes, with PCV treated with anti-VEGF therapy (either ranibizumab or bevacizumab, or both), and were followed up for 4 years or longer. The best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) at baseline was compared with that measured at 3 months and at the final follow-up. Factors associated with final visual acuity were also analyzed.
  
  
  
  The mean follow-up period was 53.0 ± 4.3 months. During the follow-up period, the patients were treated with an average of 8.8 ± 3.0 intravitreal anti-VEGF injections. BCVA at diagnosis at 12, 24, and 36 months, and at final follow-up was 0.52 ± 0.35, 0.46 ± 0.36, 0.57 ± 0.45, 0.76 ± 0.56, and 0.83 ± 0.60, respectively. When compared to the baseline value, the BCVA was significantly improved at 3 months (P = 0.006), whereas the BCVA at final follow-up was significantly decreased compared to the baseline value (P = 0.018). Among the included eyes, 48.4% experienced deterioration of visual acuity and 51.6% showed stable vision. BCVA at 12 months was most strongly associated with visual acuity at final follow-up.
  
  
  
  Although the long-term treatment outcome of PCV is generally unfavorable, stable vision can be achieved in approximately half of the patients. Visual acuity at 12 months after the initial treatment is predictive of long-term visual outcomes.
authors.affiliation: 1 Department of Ophthalmology, Konyang University College of Medicine , Daejeon, South Korea .
authors.forename: Young Suk
authors.initials: YS
authors.lastname: Chang
authors.affiliation: 2 Department of Ophthalmology, Kim's Eye Hospital, Konyang University College of Medicine , Seoul, South Korea .
authors.forename: Jae Hui
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.affiliation: 2 Department of Ophthalmology, Kim's Eye Hospital, Konyang University College of Medicine , Seoul, South Korea .
authors.forename: Kyung Min
authors.initials: KM
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.affiliation: 2 Department of Ophthalmology, Kim's Eye Hospital, Konyang University College of Medicine , Seoul, South Korea .
authors.forename: Jong Woo
authors.initials: JW
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.affiliation: 2 Department of Ophthalmology, Kim's Eye Hospital, Konyang University College of Medicine , Seoul, South Korea .
authors.forename: Tae Gon
authors.initials: TG
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.affiliation: 2 Department of Ophthalmology, Kim's Eye Hospital, Konyang University College of Medicine , Seoul, South Korea .
authors.forename: Chul Gu
authors.initials: CG
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.affiliation: 2 Department of Ophthalmology, Kim's Eye Hospital, Konyang University College of Medicine , Seoul, South Korea .
authors.forename: Sung Won
authors.initials: SW
authors.lastname: Cho
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D020533:Angiogenesis Inhibitors / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000068258:Bevacizumab / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D020256:Choroidal Neovascularization / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D000069579:Ranibizumab / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D042442:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factors / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors*
chemical_list: D020533:Angiogenesis Inhibitors; D042442:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factors; D000068258:Bevacizumab; D000069579:Ranibizumab