Purpose: To evaluate changes in choroidal thickness adjacent to the area of laser application after photodynamic therapy (PDT) in patients with polypoidal choroidal vasculopathy (PCV) using enhanced depth imaging spectral-domain optical coherence tomography.
Methods: Masked observers measured the choroidal thickness at the subfovea and superior, inferior and temporal areas adjacent to the area of laser application before, 2 days, 1 week and 1 and 3 months after treatment.
Results: Thirty-seven patients with PCV treated with PDT with verteporfin were included. The mean subfoveal choroidal thickness decreased significantly (P < 0.001) from 256 ± 115 μm at baseline to 207 ± 111 μm at 3 months; the mean outside choroidal thickness including the superior, inferior and temporal areas decreased significantly (P < 0.001) from 240 ± 92 μm at baseline to 209 ± 86 μm at 3 months.
Conclusion: PDT affected not only the subfoveal choroid, but also the choroid outside the area of laser application in PCV.