One-year outcome of combination therapy with intravitreal aflibercept and verteporfin photodynamic therapy for polypoidal choroidal vasculopathy

Association of Polyp Regression after Loading Phase with 12-Month Outcomes of Eyes with Polypoidal Choroidal Vasculopathy

PURPOSE

We compared 12-month outcomes of eyes with polypoidal choroidal vasculopathy (PCV) with or without complete regression of polyps observed one month after three monthly intravitreal administrations (loading phase) of aflibercept (2.0 mg/0.05 mL) or brolucizumab (6.0 mg/0.05 mL).

METHODS

All patients underwent indocyanine green angiography at both baseline and 3 months after initial injection and were followed up monthly with an as-needed regimen for up to 12 months. A total of 62 patients with PCV were included: 30 eyes were treated with brolucizumab, and 32 were treated with aflibercept. Eyes with complete regression of polyps (regression group) had significantly smaller maximum polyp diameter and were more frequently treated with brolucizumab than those without complete regression (non-regression) group.

RESULTS

Best corrected visual acuity was comparable between the two groups at 12 months. Although the 12-month retreatment-free proportion was comparable between the two groups (33.0% versus 27.0%, p = 0.59), a retreatment-free period was significantly longer in the regression group than in the non-regression group (8.3 ± 3.3 versus 6.5 ± 3.6 months, p = 0.022), and the number of additional injections was significantly fewer in the regression group than in the non-regression group (1.2 ± 1.2 versus 3.0 ± 2.6, p = 0.007).

CONCLUSIONS

Complete regression of polyps observed after the initial phase possibly prolongs the retreatment-free period and reduces the number of additional injections irrespective of aflibercept or brolucizumab.

Comparison of one-year outcomes between as-needed brolucizumab and aflibercept for polypoidal choroidal vasculopathy

PURPOSE

To compare the one-year visual and anatomic outcomes of an as-needed regimen of brolucizumab and aflibercept for polypoidal choroidal vasculopathy (PCV).

STUDY DESIGN

A retrospective comparative study.

METHODS

A retrospective medical chart review was performed for consecutive 56 eyes from 56 patients with PCV initially treated with thee monthly intravitreal aflibercept (n = 33, 2.0 mg/0.05 ml) or brolucizumab (n = 23, 6.0 mg/0.05 ml) followed by as-needed administration, followed up for at least 12 months. All patients were followed up monthly, and fluorescein and indocyanine green angiography (ICGA) were performed at baseline, 3-month, and 12-month visits.

RESULTS

At the 12-month visit, best-corrected visual acuity significantly improved from 0.30 ± 0.31 to 0.21 ± 0.29 (p = 0.042) in the brolucizumab-treated group and from 0.24 ± 0.25 to 0.14 ± 0.25 (p = 7.7×10^-3) in the aflibercept-treated group, suggesting comparable visual improvement in both groups. Central retinal thickness and subfoveal choroidal thickness decreased by 38.4% and 14.2%, respectively, in the brolucizumab-treated group and by 34.8% and 13.9%, respectively, in the aflibercept-treated group at the 12-month visit. The mean number of additional injections was significantly higher in the aflibercept-treated group (2.9 ± 2.7) than in the brolucizumab-treated group (1.3 ± 1.2, p = 0.045). The complete resolution of polypoidal lesions on ICGA was higher in the brolucizumab-treated group than in the aflibercept-treated group (3-month visit: 56.5% vs 30.3%, 12-month visit: 56.5% vs 30.3%).

CONCLUSIONS

In treatment-naïve eyes with PCV, the as-needed administration regimen of brolucizumab was comparable to aflibercept in terms of visual and anatomical outcomes, with fewer additional injections during the 12-month follow-up.

Comparison of 3-year outcomes of photodynamic therapy combined with intravitreal ranibizumab or aflibercept for polypoidal choroidal vasculopathy in a European cohort

PURPOSE

Combined use of photodynamic therapy (PDT) with intravitreal anti-vascular endothelial growth factors (anti-VEGF) agents, such as ranibizumab (IVR) or aflibercept (IVA), has been shown to be effective for treating polypoidal choroidal vasculopathy (PCV). However, it is currently not well established which anti-VEGF agent provides superior outcomes for performing combination therapy. The present study compares the visual outcomes and re-treatment burden of combination therapy of PDT with either IVR or IVA in a European cohort of patients with PCV.

METHODS

A retrospective analysis was done on PCV patients who had received combination therapy of PDT with either IVR or IVA. The demographic characteristics, visual outcome, and anti-VEGF re-treatment exposures were analysed and compared.

RESULTS

A total of forty-four eyes (n = 11 male, 25%) were included in the analysis: 7 patients received IVR, 19 started with IVR but switched to IVA (IVS), and 18 received IVA, in combination with PDT. The BCVA improved in all three groups at 6-, 12-, 18-, 24-, 30-, and 36-month follow-ups after PDT, although the improvement was not statistically significant in the IVR group. The number of intravitreal anti-VEGF injections required/year after PDT was significantly fewer than before PDT. Significantly less eyes in the IVS group attained a good visual acuity of more than 70 ETDRS letters at the final visit.

CONCLUSION

Both IVR and IVA combined with PDT were effective treatments for the European cohort of patients with PCV. In eyes refractory to IVR, performing PDT promptly may be more beneficial than switching to IVA.

Comparison of one-year results of photodynamic therapy combined with ranibizumab or aflibercept for treating polypoidal choroidal vasculopathy

Purpose

To compare the 1-year visual outcomes and anatomical responses of patients who received photodynamic therapy (PDT) combined with intravitreal ranibizumab (IVR) injections with those of patients who received PDT combined with intravitreal aflibercept (IVA) injections for treating polypoidal choroidal vasculopathy (PCV).

Methods

We retrospectively studied all treatment-naïve patients with PCV who received PDT combined with either IVR or IVA. Best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA), central macular thickness (CMT), central choroidal thickness (CCT), the number of additional injections, and the presence of polypoidal lesions, as indicated by indocyanine green angiography (ICGA), during 1 year were evaluated.

Results

Forty-four eyes were assessed at the 1-year follow-up examination. Of these, 23 were treated with PDT combined with IVR (PDT/IVR group), and 21 were treated with PDT combined with IVA (PDT/IVA group). In both groups, BCVA was shown to be significantly improved 1 year after the initial treatment. CMT and CCT were also significantly decreased after 1 year. There were no significant differences in the changes in BCVA or CMT between the two groups. However, the change in CCT in the PDT/IVA group was significantly larger than that of the PDT/IVR group (P < 0.001). The mean number of additional injections was 0.78 ± 0.21 in the PDT/IVR group and 0.57 ± 0.21 in the PDT/IVA group with no significant difference between the two groups (P = 0.45). The polyp regression rate at 12 months was 78.2% in the PDT/IVR group and 78.9% in the PDT/IVA group with no significant difference between the two groups.

Conclusions

PDT combined with either IVR or IVA was well tolerated and appeared to improve both vision and anatomy in patients with PCV. PDT/IVA may have a more pronounced effect on macular choroidal thickness at 1-year follow-up.

Efficacy and Safety of Intravitreal Aflibercept for Polypoidal Choroidal Vasculopathy in the PLANET Study: A Randomized Clinical Trial

Importance

Polypoidal choroidal vasculopathy (PCV) is common in Asian populations, but an optimal treatment approach remains to be confirmed.

Objective

To evaluate intravitreal aflibercept injection (IAI) in participants with PCV and compare IAI monotherapy with IAI plus rescue photodynamic therapy (PDT).

Design, Setting, and Participants

This 96-week, double-masked, sham-controlled phase 3b/4 randomized clinical trial was conducted at multiple centers in Australia, Germany, Hong Kong, Hungary, Japan, Singapore, South Korea, and Taiwan from May 2014 to August 2016, and included adults 50 years or older with symptomatic macular PCV and a best-corrected visual acuity of 73 to 24 Early Treatment Diabetic Retinopathy Study letters (20/40-20/320 Snellen equivalent).

Interventions

Participants received 2 mg of IAI at weeks 0, 4, and 8. At week 12, participants with a suboptimal response were randomized 1:1 to receive IAI plus sham PDT (IAI monotherapy) or a "rescue" of IAI plus rescue PDT (IAI/PDT). Participants who did not qualify for rescue received IAI every 8 weeks; those qualifying for rescue received IAI every 4 weeks plus sham/active PDT. When the rescue criteria were no longer met, injection intervals were gradually extended to 8 weeks.

Main Outcomes and Measures

Noninferiority of IAI monotherapy to IAI/PDT for mean change in best-corrected visual acuity from baseline to week 52 (95% CI of the difference entirely above -5 letters).

Results

Of the 318 participants, the mean (SD) age was 70.6 (8.2) years, 96 (30.2%) were women, and 152 (47.8%) were Japanese. Monotherapy with IAI was noninferior to IAI/PDT for the primary end point (+10.7 vs +10.8 letters, respectively; 95% CI, -2.9 to 1.6; P = .55), with few participants requiring rescue therapy (19 [12.1%] vs 23 [14.3%], respectively). Participants in both treatment groups had similar reductions in central subfield thickness from baseline to week 52 (-137.7 [IAI monotherapy] vs -143.5 μm [IAI/PDT]). At week 52, 49 (38.9%) and 60 participants (44.8%) had no polypoidal lesions observed on indocyanine green angiography in the IAI monotherapy and IAI/PDT groups, respectively. Furthermore, 116 (81.7%) and 136 (88.9%), respectively, had no polypoidal lesions with leakage. The most frequent ocular adverse events were conjunctival hemorrhage (IAI monotherapy, 8 [5.1%]) and dry eye (IAI/PDT, 9 [5.6%]).

Conclusions and Relevance

Improvement in visual and/or functional outcomes was achieved in more than 85% of participants who were treated with IAI monotherapy, with no signs of leakage from polypoidal lesions in more than 80%. As fewer than 15% met the criteria of a suboptimal response to receive PDT, the potential benefit of adding PDT cannot be determined.

Trial Registration

ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT02120950.

Prognostic factors for combined ranibizumab and prompt verteporfin photodynamic therapy for polypoidal choroidal vasculopathy

PURPOSE

To investigate the prognostic factors for the combined therapy of ranibizumab and prompt verteporfin photodynamic therapy (vPDT) for eyes with polypoidal choroidal vasculopathy (PCV).

METHODS

Sixty-two PCV eyes of 62 patients that received the initial treatment of intravitreal ranibizumab followed by vPDT within 1 week plus a 2nd intravitreal ranibizumab 1 month later in one single medical center were retrospectively enrolled. Best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) and parameters obtained from optical coherence tomography at baseline, 3 months, 6 months and 1  year were measured and compared. Factors associated with polyp regression, recurrent hemorrhage and visual improvement were analyzed.

RESULTS

After the loading treatment, complete and partial polyp regression was achieved in 53.6% and 39.3% of cases, respectively at Month 3. The mean logarithm of the minimum angle of resolution of BCVA improved from 0.64 ± 0.38 to 0.55 ± 0.46 (P =  0.008) at Month 12. Recurrent hemorrhage (P =  0.001) and previous anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) treatment (P =  0.017) were associated with poorer visual improvement at Month 12. Incomplete polyp regression (P =  0.038) and previous anti-VEGF treatment (P =  0.005) were associated with a higher risk of recurrent hemorrhage.

CONCLUSIONS

Recurrent hemorrhage was associated with poor visual improvement after combined ranibizumab and vPDT for PCV. Complete polyp eradication was associated with a lower risk of recurrent hemorrhage. Patients who had previously received anti-VEGF were associated with recurrent hemorrhage and poor visual improvement; more frequent follow-ups and more aggressive subsequent treatments may be needed for these cases.

INTRAVITREAL INJECTION OF AFLIBERCEPT IN PATIENTS WITH POLYPOIDAL CHOROIDAL VASCULOPATHY: A 3-YEAR FOLLOW-UP

PURPOSE

To compare the 3-year follow-up results of intravitreal injections of aflibercept between fixed dosing (FD) regimen and a pro re nata (PRN) regimen after three initial monthly doses for the treatment of polypoidal choroidal vasculopathy and to analyze factors influencing improvement in visual acuity.

METHODS

We retrospectively studied all treatment-naive patients with polypoidal choroidal vasculopathy who were scheduled to receive intravitreal aflibercept injections FD or PRN after induction treatment between March 2013 and May 2014. Best-corrected visual acuity was evaluated before treatment and at 4, 12, 24, and 36 months after initial treatment. Factors that influence improvement in visual acuity were also investigated.

RESULTS

Thirty-three eyes were assessed at the 3-year follow-up examination. Twenty-three eyes were treated with intravitreal aflibercept injections every 2 months for at least 1 year after three initial monthly doses (FD group), and 10 eyes were treated PRN after loading doses (PRN group). In the FD group, during the follow-up period from 1 to 3 years, quarterly dosing with capped PRN or a treat and extend regimen were selected. The mean number of administered intravitreal aflibercept was 15.3 ± 4.6 in the FD group and 9.0 ± 8.9 in the PRN group, with a significant difference between the two groups (P = 0.004). Significant improvement of the mean logarithm of the minimum angle of resolution values for best-corrected visual acuity was shown at 36 months, as compared to baseline values (P = 0.019). No significant difference in the improvement of best-corrected visual acuity between the two groups was observed at baseline or at 4, 12, 24, and 36 months after treatment (all P > 0.05), although there was a trend toward better results in the FD group. Multiple regression analysis showed that the FD group had better visual acuity at 36 months and greater improvement in visual acuity than the PRN group (P = 0.031 for both comparisons).

CONCLUSION

Intravitreal aflibercept was effective in improving the vision of patients with polypoidal choroidal vasculopathy, as evaluated at the 3-year follow-up. Fixed treatment might be an important factor influencing improvement in visual acuity.

One-year outcome of combination therapy with intravitreal aflibercept and photodynamic therapy for polypoidal choroidal vasculopathy

Background

To investigate the one-year visual and anatomical outcomes of combination therapy with intravitreal aflibercept (IVA) and photodynamic therapy (PDT) for treating polypoidal choroidal vasculopathy (PCV).

Methods

This was a retrospective case-series study, including 30 eyes from 30 patients with treatment-naïve PCV treated by combination therapy with IVA and PDT. Best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA), central retinal thickness (CRT), complete polyp regression rate, and dry macula rate were recorded every 3 months during 12-month follow-up. Clinical factors associated with final visual outcome and retreatment were investigated.

Results

The mean LogMAR BCVA was significantly improved from 0.73 ± 0.65 at baseline to 0.51 ± 0.60 (p = 0.01), and the mean CRT was also significantly improved from 339 ± 96 μm at baseline to 244 ± 43 μm at 12-month follow-up (p <  0.001). Complete regression of polypoidal lesions was 76.7%, and dry macula rate was 100% at 12 months. Better final BCVA was associated with younger age and better baseline BCVA (p = 0.02 and p <  0 001). The patients without complete polyp regression at 3-month follow-up were associated with retreatment (p = 0.03).

Conclusion

In this study, combination therapy with IVA and PDT had significant visual and anatomical improvements to PCV patients during one-year follow-up. Better baseline BCVA and younger age were found to be associated with better visual outcome.

Electronic supplementary material

The online version of this article (10.1186/s40360-019-0310-1) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

Indocyanine green angiography findings in patients with neovascular age-related macular degeneration refractory to ranibizumab switched to aflibercept

PURPOSE

To describe indocyanine green angiography (ICGA) and visual acuity (VA) results in patients with neovascular age-related macular degeneration (nAMD) refractory to ranibizumab switched to aflibercept.

METHODS

This study is a prospective interventional case series. Thirty-two eyes of 32 patients with nAMD showing a poor response after at least 24 months of ranibizumab were switched to aflibercept. Twenty eyes had type I choroidal neovascularization (CNV group), and 12 eyes had polypoidal choroidal vasculopathy (PCV group). After an initial loading dose of three monthly aflibercept injections, treatment was continued on a treat-and-extend basis. ICGA was performed just before the first aflibercept injection (baseline) and 12 and 24 months later. The variables recorded were: closure of polyps and lesion area, VA, number of aflibercept injections, dry macula, and pigment epithelium detachment.

RESULTS

The following means were recorded in the CNV and PCV groups, respectively: number of ranibizumab injections 20.4 ± 11.2 and 22.4 ± 12.9 (p = 0.740); baseline VA (before aflibercept) 73.2 ± 9.1 and 70.3 ± 13.7 letters (p = 0.654); and final VA 73.0 ± 7.6 and 69.3 ± 15.6 letters (p = 0.509). VA remained stable (p = 0.761 and 0.964) after 15.5 ± 3 and 15.1 ± 3.5 aflibercept injections (p = 0.244). At 24 months, dry macula was noted in 40 to 50% of the eyes (p = 0.620). Complete resolution of polyps was observed in 58% at 12 months and 92% at 24 months.

CONCLUSIONS

In patients with nAMD refractory to ranibizumab, aflibercept was effective at maintaining VA and closing numerous polyps. In half of the patients, dry macula was observed at 24 months.

The 24-month outcomes of intravitreal aflibercept combined with photodynamic therapy for polypoidal choroidal vasculopathy

PURPOSE

This study was prospectively carried out to clarify the effectiveness of visual and anatomical outcomes under combination therapy of intravitreal aflibercept (IVA) and verteporfin photodynamic therapy (vPDT) in over 24 months.

STUDY DESIGN

A single-arm prospective exploratory study.

METHODS

Twenty-six eyes of 26 treatment naïve PCV patients were enrolled in this study. The primary outcome measures were the changes in best corrected visual acuity (BCVA) and the complete polyp regression rate. The secondary outcome measures included central retinal thickness assessed by optical coherence tomography.

RESULTS

The patients showed significant improvement in BCVA by 0.14 logMAR units at 12 months and 0.11 logMAR units at 24 months from baseline (both p < 0.01). The mean central retinal thickness also significantly decreased at 12 months (p < 0.001) and at 24 months (p = 0.001). Complete regression of polypoidal lesions was achieved by 15 out of 20 eyes (75%) at 12 months and 11 out of 20 eyes (55%) at 24 months. The mean treatment number was 2.9 courses of IVA and 1.5 courses of vPDT and the mean retreatment free interval after initial therapy was 12.8 months during follow up of 24 months. The complete data from all predetermined examinations were observed in 17 out of 26 enrolled patients (65%) in this study.

CONCLUSION

In this study, combination therapy of IVA and vPDT yielded visual and anatomical improvements in treatment-naïve PCV patients over a 24-month follow-up period.

Efficacy and safety of ranibizumab monotherapy versus ranibizumab in combination with verteporfin photodynamic therapy in patients with polypoidal choroidal vasculopathy: 12-month outcomes in the Japanese cohort of EVEREST II study

Purpose

To compare the efficacy and safety of ranibizumab 0.5 mg with or without verteporfin photodynamic therapy in Japanese patients with polypoidal choroidal vasculopathy over 12 months.

Study design

EVEREST II was a 24-month, Phase IV, multicenter, randomized, double-masked study in Asian patients with symptomatic macular polypoidal choroidal vasculopathy.

Methods

Of the 322 enrolled patients, 84 patients, including 46 patients who received ranibizumab + verteporfin photodynamic therapy (combination therapy arm) and 38 patients who received ranibizumab/sham PDT (monotherapy arm), were Japanese who were evaluated in this subanalysis. Mean change in best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) and complete polyp regression at Month 12, ranibizumab treatment exposure, and safety over 12 months were assessed.

Results

Baseline demographics were well balanced between the arms. At Month 12, mean change in BCVA letter score was +8.5 with combination therapy versus +6.4 with monotherapy. Complete polyp regression was higher with combination therapy than with monotherapy at Month 12 (70.5% vs 27.3%). Over 12 months, patients in the combination arm received a median of 4.0 ranibizumab injections vs 7.0 in the monotherapy arm. Serious adverse events were generally low in both arms, and retinal hemorrhage, an adverse event, was reported in one patient (2.2%).

Conclusion

The results from the Japanese cohort were in agreement with the EVEREST II study. Combination therapy was effective in improving BCVA and achieving a higher rate of complete polyp regression with a lower number of ranibizumab injections than monotherapy. No new safety signals were reported, and safety events were comparable between both arms over 12 months.

Aflibercept Treatment in Polypoidal Choroidal Vasculopathy: Results of a Prospective Study in a Caucasian Population

INTRODUCTION

Polypoidal choroidal vasculopathy (PCV) is a choroidal pathology characterized by frequent occurrences of subretinal hemorrhages and resistance to monotherapies such as ranibizumab or bevacizumab intravitreal injections (IVT). The purpose of this study is to evaluate both the anatomical and functional efficacy of aflibercept IVT as a monotherapy in PCV in a Caucasian population.

METHODS

We conducted a prospective multicenter study in either treatment-naïve patients with PCV or PVC patients who had not been treated with anti-VEGF within the previous 3 months or with photodynamic therapy (PDT) within the previous 6 months. All patients had been treated with 3 initial monthly loading doses of aflibercept followed by a Q8 regimen for 28 weeks in total. All patients underwent a complete ophthalmic examination including the measurement of best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) before each IVT and after 28 weeks as well as an optical coherent tomography (OCT) of the macula. At baseline and 28 weeks, the polypoidal dilations were analyzed with indocyanine green angiography.

RESULTS

Thirty-four eyes of 34 patients were included in this study. All patients were followed for 28 weeks and received 5 aflibercept IVT. The mean baseline BCVA was 55 letters. After 28 weeks, significant +13 letters in BCVA and a regression of exudative signs on OCT in all patients were observed. In 62% of the cases, polyp disappearance was observed on indocyanine green angiography.

DISCUSSION

In this study on a Caucasian population, we showed that aflibercept as a monotherapy provided both a significant visual gain and the regression of polypoidal dilations. Aflibercept use in monotherapy may contribute to reduce the hemorrhagic risk and atrophy linked to PDT.

Comparison of two-year outcomes after photodynamic therapy with ranibizumab or aflibercept for polypoidal choroidal vasculopathy

Photodynamic therapy (PDT) combined with intravitreal anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) agents is currently the first-line treatment for polypoidal choroidal vasculopathy (PCV), along with anti-VEGF monotherapy. In this study, 100 eyes with treatment-naïve PCV were initially treated with PDT combined with intravitreal ranibizumab (IVR; n = 57) or aflibercept (IVA; n = 43). We compared two-year outcomes between these two groups and investigated factors associated with visual improvement and retreatment over 24 months. Best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) was significantly improved in both groups (P < 0.001) at 24 months. Multiple regression analysis revealed that visual improvement at 24 months was associated with female (P = 0.030), worse baseline BCVA (P = 3.0 × 10⁻⁶), smaller greatest linear dimension (GLD; P = 2.0 × 10⁻⁴), and treatment with IVA rather than IVR (P = 0.016). Multiple logistic regression analysis revealed that absence of retreatment was associated with younger age (P = 2.2 × 10⁻⁴), female (P = 1.2 × 10⁻³), and the non-risk variants of ARMS2 A69S (P = 6.0 × 10⁻⁴). Although there were no significant differences in the retreatment rate between the two groups, PDT/IVA may be superior to PDT/IVR in terms of visual improvement at 24 months.

Effects of photodynamic therapy plus intravitreal aflibercept with subtenon triamcinolone injections for aflibercept-resistant polypoidal choroidal vasculopathy

PURPOSE

To evaluate the outcome of triple therapy of photodynamic therapy combined with injections of intravitreal aflibercept (IVA) and subtenon triamcinolone acetonide for polypoidal choroidal vasculopathy (PCV) resistant to IVA.

METHODS

A retrospective chart review at a single institution was conducted to identify patients with PCV resistant to treatment with IVA who were switched to treatment with triple therapy. In total, 13 eyes from 13 patients were included in the study. Demographic data, visual acuities, central retinal thickness (CRT) and height of pigment epithelial detachment (PED) on optical coherence tomography (OCT), complications, and number of injections were reviewed.

RESULTS

The patients had a mean age of 68 years (range 53-83). The number of prior injections with IVA ranged from 5 to 10. At 12 months follow-up after triple therapy, there was a significant improvement in visual acuity (P = 0.0039), a significant decrease in CRT (P = 0.003), and a significant reduction of the height of PED (P = 0.015). Only one patient had retinal pigment epithelium tear.

CONCLUSIONS

Triple therapy improved visual and anatomical outcomes in patients with PCV with recurrent or resistant retinal fluid and PED after multiple injections with IVA.

Comparison between 1-year outcomes of aflibercept with and without photodynamic therapy for polypoidal choroidal vasculopathy: Retrospective observation study

Polypoidal choroidal vasculopathy (PCV) is characterized by polyp-like choroidal neovascularization and a branching vascular network. Intravitreal aflibercept injection (IAI) or photodynamic therapy (PDT) is used for treatment. We retrospectively compared the 1-year outcomes of IAI monotherapy and its combination with initial PDT for PCV. Twelve eyes with naïve PCV received three IAIs and a single PDT after the first IAI and as needed injection (combination group); 11 eyes with naïve PCV received three IAIs and as needed injections (IAI group). Significant improvements in visual acuity after 2 months and in CRT after 1 month were maintained at 12 months in both groups (both P < 0.05); groups did not differ significantly at any time point. CCT significantly reduced after 3 and 12 months in the combination group (both P < 0.05) but not in the IAI group. A mean of 3.7 ± 0.9 and 5.6 ± 2.0 injections was administered to the combination and IAI groups, respectively (P = 0.013). Within a 1-year period, combination therapy was found to yield similar visual acuity and retinal structure improvements and maintenance as IAI monotherapy while requiring fewer IAIs.