Photodynamic therapy combined with intravitreal injection of triamcinolone acetonide for choroidal neovascularization

Abstract

The aim of this research was to evaluate the efficacy and safety of photodynamic therapy (PDT) combined with intravitreal injection of triamcinolone acetonide (TA) in the treatment of choroidal neovascularization (CNV) secondary to age-related macular degeneration (AMD) and pathological myopia. PDT combined with intravitreal injection of TA was performed on 16 eyes of 16 patients with CNV diagnosed by visual acuity, fluorescein fundus angiography (FFA) and optical coherent tomography (OCT), including 14 eyes secondary to age-related macular degeneration and two eyes secondary to pathological myopia. TA was injected intravitreally 72 h post PDT on 12 eyes and from three months to one year (mean nine months) post PDT on four eyes respectively. All the patients were followed up for 3 to 18 months (mean 18.6 months). Best-corrected visual acuity, intraocular pressure, retinal thickness and FFA were observed. The visual acuity was improved in seven eyes (43.8%) of all the 16 eyes and stable in nine eyes (56.2%), respectively. FFA revealed complete or partial closure of CNV in all patients. OCT showed that the macular edema disappeared or was alleviated. Transient intraocular pressure elevation occurred in one patient (6.25%) of all the 16 eyes and intraocular pressure returned to the normal after a transient treatment with anti-glaucoma medication. The mean number of PDTs during the first year was 1.1. PDT combined with intravitreal injection of TA for CNV is safe and effective. It can reduce the risk of visual loss and the treatment frequency.