Comparative Analysis of the Clinical Features and Long-Term Outcomes of Pachychoroid Neovasculopathy and Type 1 Neovascular Age-Related Macular Degeneration

Abstract EN

Purpose.

To evaluate the clinical characteristics and long-term prognosis of pachychoroid neovasculopathy (PCN) when compared with type 1 neovascular age-related macular degeneration (nAMD).

Methods.

We retrospectively analyzed 30 and 60 patients whose eyes were diagnosed as treatment-naïve PCN or type 1 nAMD, respectively.

All subjects were followed up for 5 years.

Baseline angiographic characteristics and long-term clinical outcomes were compared between the two groups.

Results.

PCN group consisted of patients of younger age and represented more choroidal vascular hyperpermeability, polypoidal lesion, and history of central serous chorioretinopathy (CSC) at the time of diagnosis (all p < 0.01).

During the 5-year follow-up period, individuals in the PCN group received significantly fewer injections and reported better visual acuity compared to individuals in the type 1 nAMD group.

A progressive decrease in the subfoveal choroidal thickness was observed in the type 1 nAMD group, while the thick choroid was maintained in the PCN group during the 5-year follow-up period.

Conclusions.

PCN developed in younger patients with a higher propensity of forming polypoidal lesions and a history of CSC.

Long-term outcomes revealed that PCN had a thicker choroid and better visual prognosis with fewer number of intravitreal injection than that of type 1 nAMD.