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Br J Ophthalmol 2006;90:337-341 doi:10.1136/bjo.2005.081299
  • Clinical science
    • Extended reports

Combined photodynamic therapy and intravitreal triamcinolone injection for the treatment of subfoveal choroidal neovascularisation in age related macular degeneration: a comparative study

  1. W-M Chan1,2,
  2. T Y Y Lai1,
  3. A L Wong1,
  4. J-P Tong1,3,
  5. D T L Liu2,
  6. D S C Lam1,2
  1. 1Hong Kong Eye Hospital, Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, People’s Republic of China
  2. 2Prince of Wales Hospital, Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, People’s Republic of China
  3. 3Zheyi Eye Center, The First Affiliated Hospital, Medical College, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, People’s Republic of China
  1. Correspondence to: Professor Wai-Man Chan Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong Eye Hospital, 147K Argyle Street, Hong Kong; cwm6373{at}netvigator.com
  • Accepted 5 November 2005

Abstract

Aim: To evaluate the outcomes of combined intravitreal triamcinolone (IVTA) and photodynamic therapy (PDT) with verteporfin in the treatment of subfoveal choroidal neovascularisation (CNV) caused by age related macular degeneration (AMD).

Methods: 48 eyes from 48 patients with subfoveal CNV caused by AMD were prospective recruited, with 24 eyes treated with combined PDT with IVTA and compared with a control group of 24 eyes which received PDT monotherapy. In the combined treatment group, IVTA was performed immediately after PDT as an outpatient procedure. The mean number of treatments, mean logMAR best corrected visual acuity (BCVA), mean line of visual acuity changes, and proportion of patients without moderate visual loss at 1 year were compared between the combined and monotherapy groups.

Results: At 1 year the logMAR BCVA for the PDT with IVTA group changed from 0.88 to 0.95 (p = 0.32 compared with baseline), whereas the logMAR BCVA for the monotherapy group reduced from 0.74 to 1.09 (p<0.001 compared with baseline). A significantly higher proportion of patients who had PDT with IVTA did not develop moderate visual loss at 1 year compared with the monotherapy group (70.8% and 33.3% respectively, p = 0.009). Eyes which had combined treatment had significantly fewer lines lost compared with monotherapy alone (0.7 and 3.5 lines respectively, p = 0.015). Subgroup analysis showed that PDT with IVTA is effective in preventing visual loss in both predominately classic and occult CNV groups. The mean number of treatments for the combined and monotherapy groups was 1.5 and 1.96 respectively (p = 0.076).

Conclusions: Combined PDT with IVTA appeared more effective statistically at 12 months for stabilisation of vision (<3 logMAR lines change) compared with PDT monotherapy. Further randomised control trials might be justified to conclude the efficacy of PDT with IVTA.

Footnotes

  • Financial interest: nil.

  • Financial support: supported by Competitive Earmarked Research Grant #4140/02M

  • Competing interests: none declared

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