Pro re nata anti-VEGF treatment in pachychoroid neovasculopathy compared with age-related macular degeneration based on optical coherence tomography

To compare anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (anti-VEGF) treatment in pachychoroid neovasculopathy (PNV) and age related macular degeneration (AMD).

Cases having pro re nata (PRN) anti-VEGF treatment for choroidal neovascularization were reviewed and grouped as PNV and AMD. Groups were compared according to central foveal thickness (CFT), best corrected visual acuity (BCVA), and total injection over 12 months. The correlation of beginning choroidal thickness, CFT, and BCVA with final BCVA was analyzed.

Forty-seven PNV and 65 AMD cases were reviewed. Both the PNV group (p = 0.0001) and the AMD group (p = 0.003) had a significant improvement in BCVA and a significant decrease in CFT (p = 0.0001). However, BCVA was better at the 3-, 6-, and 12-month follow-up in PNV (p = 0.003, 0.002, 0.02). No significant CFT difference was observed between groups. The total number of injections was 5.7 ± 1.7 for PNV and 5.2 ± 1.5 for AMD (p = 0.09). Beginning BCVA was positively correlated with final BCVA in both groups.

The PRN treatment regimen was effective for PNV and AMD in terms of visual and anatomical outcomes. Visual response was better in PNV with PRN treatment with the same number of injections.