Comparison of the 12-Month Outcomes of Intravitreal Ranibizumab between Two Angiographic Subtypes of Polypoidal Choroidal Vasculopathy

Abstract

BACKGROUND: To compare the 12-month outcomes of intravitreal ranibizumab (IVR) between two angiographic subtypes of polypoidal choroidal vasculopathy (PCV). METHODS: This is a retrospective cohort study of 38 treatment-naïve PCV cases. Three consecutive IVR and retreatments as needed were performed. Subsequently, the PCV cases were classified into two phenotypes (18 type 1 and 20 type 2) according to the status of branching vascular network. The best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) was evaluated in each PCV subtype up to 12 months after the initial IVR. RESULTS: The mean BCVA was significantly improved from baseline in type 1 PCV while not in type 2 PCV. In type 2 PCV, 3 cases showed severe visual loss after 6 months from the initial IVR. The mean retreatment number was 1.9 ± 1.7 in type 1 PCV and 1.2 ± 1.3 in type 2 PCV. CONCLUSIONS: The outcomes of IVR may be different between two angiographic subtypes of PCV.