Subfoveal choroidal thickness in polypoidal choroidal vasculopathy after switching to intravitreal aflibercept injection

Purpose To investigate the changes in subfoveal thickness after switching to intravitreal aflibercept injection for polypoidal choroidal vasculopathy (PCV). Methods We retrospectively reviewed 66 eyes of 65 PCV patients (mean age 75.7 years) which were refractory to ranibizumab. The choroidal thickness was measured by optical coherence tomography (OCT) using an enhanced depth imaging technique. Intravitreal aflibercept (2 mg/0.05 ml) was administered with three consecutive monthly injections as a loading dose, followed by further injections bimonthly (every two months). Results The mean subfoveal choroidal thickness significantly decreased from 203 mu m at baseline to 171 mu m at month 6 (P < 0.0001). The mean logMAR best-corrected visual acuity levels significantly improved from 0.40 at baseline to 0.33 at 6 months (P < 0.001). The central retinal thickness significantly decreased from 249 mu m at baseline to 161 mu m at 6 months (P < 0.0001). At month 6, 41 (62.1 %) eyes had dry macula by OCT. Of 46 eyes with polypoidal lesions at baseline, complete regression of polypoidal lesions was achieved in 26 (56.5 %) eyes at 3 months. Conclusions The choroidal thickness in PCV eyes significantly decreased after switching to intravitreal aflibercept injection. Aflibercept may help prevent choroidal neovascularization near or under the retinal pigment epithelium, which might help achieve greater occlusion of polypoidal lesions compared with ranibizumab.