Five-Year Visual Outcome and Visual Prognostic Factors after Photodynamic Therapy with Verteporfin for Idiopathic Choroidal Neovascularization

Aim: To evaluate the long-term outcome of photodynamic therapy (PDT) for idiopathic choroidal neovascularization (CNV). Methods: Retrospective review of 30 eyes (27 patients) treated with PDT for naïve idiopathic CNV, and completed at least five-year follow-up. Best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA, logMAR; logarithm of minimum angle resolution) at baseline and each follow-up visit were investigated. Baseline characteristics including greatest linear diameter at baseline (mm), location of CNV (juxtafoveal or subfoveal), refractive errors, age at diagnosis, and presence of recurrence were analyzed. Results: During mean follow-up of 76.0±15.5 months, mean total 1.87±1.31 numbers of PDT were done. Mean age at diagnosis of idiopathic CNV was 36.7±6.2 years. Eight eyes (26.7%) showed 1.3±0.7 recurrences. Nineteen eyes (63.3%) showed subfoveal CNV, and 11 eyes (36.7%) did juxtafoveal CNV. Mean BCVA at baseline was 0.56±0.38 logMAR (20/72 Snellen equivalent), and 0.56±0.86 logMAR at 5 years (20/72 Snellen equivalent; p=0.980). Baseline BCVA (B=-7.250, P=0.015), juxtafoveal location of CNV (B=0.825, P=0.038), and baseline greatest linear diameter (B=-0.835, P=0.047) were significantly correlated with visual outcome. Conclusion: Five-year follow-up results of PDT for idiopathic CNV showed limited efficacy in visual outcome. Baseline BCVA, lesion size, and location of CNV were significantly correlated with long-term visual outcome after PDT.