Photodynamic Therapy Alone Versus Combined With Intravitreal Bevacizumab for Age-related Macular Degeneration

Verteporfin Photodynamic Therapy Alone Versus Combined With Intravitreal Bevacizumab for Neovascular Age-related Macular Degeneration

The purpose of this study is to compare 12-month results of two single initial treatments-photodynamic therapy with verteporfin alone and this therapy combined with intravitreal bevacizumab-for neovascular age-related macular degeneration, not including patients with polypoidal choroidal vasculopathy who were presumed to have age-related macular degeneration.

Inclusion Criteria:

• choroidal neovascularization caused by age-related macula degeneration
• no previous treatment
• a follow-up at least 12 months
• a baseline visual acuity ranging from a letter score of 0 to 70 on the Early Treatment Diabetic Retinopathy Study chart

Exclusion Criteria:

• choroidal neovascularization caused by other eye diseases
• ocular surgery within the past 3 mouths
• history of uveitis
• intraocular pressure higher than 25 mmHg, or glaucoma
• history of systemic or ocular thromboembolic events.