Quadruple therapy leads to a sustained improvement of vision in patients with wet age-related macular degeneration

Abstract

Aim: To investigate the efficacy of a combined intravitreal therapy with prior photodynamic therapy (PDT) in patients with wet age-related macular degeneration.

Methods: Fifty-two patients (mean age: 72.7 years) with predominantly classic choroidal neovascularization received low-fluence PDT (42 J/cm2 for 72 s), followed 24 h later by a 0.4-ml core pars plana vitrectomy with intravitreal injection of dexamethasone (0.8 mg) and bevacizumab (1.25 mg). The best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA; 6 m Snellen), central macular thickness (optical coherence tomography), intraocular pressure and the need for retreatment were assessed.

Results: BCVA changed significantly (vs. baseline) at 3 months (+0.11), 9 months (+0.19) and 14 months (+0.16). At the end of the follow-up period, BCVA had improved by > 0.1 in the majority of the patients (72.9%), and the mean central retinal thickness had decreased by -44.3% (-211 μm). The retreatment rate was 25%. No increase in intraocular pressure or other adverse event was reported.

Conclusions: The pharmacological effects of the drugs, the low-fluence PDT, and the physiological effects of the therapy may have contributed to the sustainability of the therapeutic benefits.