The aim of this research was to evaluate the efficacy and safety of
photodynamic therapy (
PDT) combined with
intravitreal injection of
triamcinolone acetonide (TA) in the treatment of
choroidal neovascularization (CNV) secondary to
age-related macular degeneration (AMD) and
pathological myopia.
PDT combined with
intravitreal injection of TA was performed on 16 eyes of 16 patients with CNV diagnosed by visual acuity,
fluorescein fundus angiography (FFA) and optical coherent tomography (OCT), including 14 eyes secondary to
age-related macular degeneration and two eyes secondary to
pathological myopia. TA was injected intravitreally 72 h post
PDT on 12 eyes and from three months to one year (mean nine months) post
PDT on four eyes respectively. All the patients were followed up for 3 to 18 months (mean 18.6 months). Best-corrected visual acuity, intraocular pressure,
retinal thickness and FFA were observed. The visual acuity was improved in seven eyes (43.8%) of all the 16 eyes and stable in nine eyes (56.2%), respectively. FFA revealed complete or partial closure of CNV in all patients. OCT showed that the
macular edema disappeared or was alleviated. Transient intraocular pressure elevation occurred in one patient (6.25%) of all the 16 eyes and intraocular pressure returned to the normal after a transient treatment with antiglaucoma medication. The mean number of PDTs during the first year was 1.1.
PDT combined with
intravitreal injection of TA for CNV is safe and effective. It can reduce the risk of visual loss and the treatment frequency.