Intravitreal Anti-vascular Endothelial Growth Factor for Newly Diagnosed Symptomatic Polypoidal Choroidal Vasculopathy with Extrafoveal Polyps

PURPOSE: To evaluate the 12-month outcome of anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) treatment for extrafoveal polypoidal choroidal vasculopathy (PCV). METHODS: This retrospective observational study included 32 eyes of 32 patients newly diagnosed with extrafoveal PCV (polyps located more than 500 µm from the center of the fovea). Patients were treated with intravitreal ranibizumab, bevacizumab, or both. The best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) and central foveal thickness (CFT) at diagnosis and at 12 months were compared. Eyes were divided into two groups according to the presence of submacular hemorrhage. The BCVA in each group was compared at baseline and at 12 months. RESULTS: During the 12-month study period, patients received an average of 4.0 ± 1.1 anti-VEGF injections. The BCVA at baseline, three-month post-diagnosis, and 12-month post-diagnosis was 0.59 ± 0.40, 0.34 ± 0.38, and 0.38 ± 0.38, respectively. The BCVA at 12 months was significantly better than the baseline value (p = 0.002). The CFT at baseline, three-month, and 12-month post-diagnosis was 477.1 ± 194.2 µm, 214.5 ± 108.8 µm, and 229.8 ± 106.1 µm, respectively. The CFT at 12 months was significantly lower than the baseline value (p < 0.001). A significant improvement in BCVA was noted in eyes with and without submacular hemorrhage (n = 13, p = 0.032 and n = 19, p = 0.007, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: Anti-VEGF therapy was beneficial in extrafoveal PCV, regardless of the presence of submacular hemorrhage.