One-year results of aflibercept treatment for polypoidal choroidal vasculopathy with good visual acuity.

Purpose: To evaluate the one-year efficacy of intravitreal aflibercept injection in polypoidal choroidal vasculopathy (PCV) with best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) of 20/40 or better.

Methods: This was a multicenter retrospective study. The medical records of patients diagnosed with treatment-naïve PCV were retrospectively reviewed. Patients with an initial BCVA of 20/40 or better and who had undergone intravitreal aflibercept injection were included. Patients were treated with 3 consecutive monthly injections, followed by pro re nata regimen according to the clinician's discretion at variable interval visits. The proportions of eyes for which BCVA was maintained (≤ 0.2 logMAR change) or improved at 12 months were evaluated. The changes of BCVA, central subfield macular thickness (CSMT), pigment epithelial detachment (PED), and subretinal fluid (SRF) also were assessed.

Results: A total of 86 eyes were included. The mean number of injections for 12 months of treatment was 5.4 ± 1.7. BCVA was maintained or improved in 94.2% (81/86) of cases. Mean BCVA (logMAR) had changed from the baseline (0.23 ± 0.09) at 3 months (0.21 ± 0.14), 6 months (0.24 ± 0.22) and 12 months (0.20 ± 0.18), but with no statistical significance. CSMT had improved significantly from the baseline (336.1 ± 97.3 ㎛) at 3 months (223.6 ± 47.22 ㎛), 6 months (239.6 ± 64.2 ㎛), and 12 months (223.8 ± 47.9 ㎛). PED was observed in 93% of cases at the baseline, 72.1% at 3 months, and 69.8% at 12 months, showing a significant decrease at all observation points. SRF was observed in 91.9% of cases at the baseline, 20.9% at 3 months, and 29.1% at 12 months, showing a significant decrease at all observation points.

Conclusion: In cases of PCV with good visual acuity, intravitreal aflibercept injections decreased CSMT and were effective in maintaining visual acuity.