Photodynamic therapy for polypoidal choroidal vasculopathy: baseline perimetric results and visual outcomes

Abstract

Purpose: To investigate whether the baseline mean deviation (MD) of Humphrey perimetry has a predictive value for visual improvement after photodynamic therapy (PDT) for polypoidal choroidal vasculopathy (PCV).

Methods: We retrospectively reviewed the records of 40 eyes of 39 PCV patients (28 men, 11 women) who underwent PDT. The follow-up period ranged from 12 to 42 months. Best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) improved more than 0.2 logarithm of the minimum angle of resolution (logMAR) units at the final examination in 22 (55%) of the 40 eyes, which were classified into the "Improved group." The other 18 eyes with improvement of <or=0.2 logMAR units were classified into the "Not Improved group."

Results: The baseline MD in the Improved group was significantly better than that in the Not Improved group (P=0.0144). Multivariate analysis confirmed that only the baseline MD was associated with improvement of the final BCVA, showing that eyes with better baseline MD tended to exhibit improvement of the final BCVA after PDT for PCV (odds ratio=1.303; 95% confidence interval, 1.069-1.588).

Conclusions: The baseline MD in Humphrey perimetry can be useful for predicting visual improvement after PDT for PCV.