Classic choroidal neovascularization developing after photodynamic therapy in eyes with polypoidal choroidal vasculopathy.

Purpose: To investigate the characteristics of eyes with polypoidal choroidal vasculopathy (PCV) which develop secondary classic choroidal neovascularization (CNV) after photodynamic therapy (PDT).

Methods: We retrospectively reviewed the records of 64 eyes of 64 PCV patients (43 men, 21 women; mean age ± standard deviation, 72.7 ± 8.6 years), who were followed-up for at least 1 year after the initial PDT. There was no evidence of classic CNV in any of the subject eyes on fluorescein angiography (FA) at the first PDT. Eyes which developed of secondary classic CNV after PDT were classified as the CNV group and the other eyes as the No-CNV group.

Results: Secondary classic CNV developed after PDT in 10 (15.6%) of the 64 eyes. Six patients developed CNV within 1 year after the first PDT. Multivariate logistic regression analysis for the baseline factors related to CNV development, including age, gender, greatest linear dimension, and the lesion components, revealed that in the CNV group the age was significantly younger (p = 0.037) and the incidence of retinal edema was significantly greater (p = 0.041) than in the No-CNV group.

Conclusions: Secondary classic CNV tends to develop after PDT in PCV eyes in younger patients with retinal edema.