Comparison of the Efficiency and Safety of Photodynamic Therapy Combined Intravitreal Bevacizumab and Intravitreal Triamcinolone Treatments in Age-Related Macular Degeneration
Authors: Erden Meltem , Önder Feyza , Sur Ayrancıoğlu Bedriye Nur 
Published: January 2024

Objective: This study aims to retrospectively examine the mid and long-term results of the photodynamic therapy (PDT) +IVTA group and the PDT +IVB applied Group in the treatment of choroid neovascularization (CNV) due to age-related macular degeneration (AMD) and to compare the results with the results of multicenter clinical studies.
Materials and Methods: 64 eyes of 64 patients admitted to Haseki Training and Research Hospital, Department of Ophthalmology, Retina unit between June 2003 and March 2009, diagnosed with CNV secondary to age-related macular degeneration and treated, were included in the study. Thirty-five eyes with PDT +IVTA were classified as Group I, and 29 with PDT +IVTA were classified as Group II. Visual acuities of the cases were evaluated with ETDR and Snellen charts and converted to their equivalents on the Logarithm of Minimal Angle of Resolution (logMAR) scale. All patients underwent an ophthalmological examination before and after the treatment; fundus fluorescein angiography (FFA) and optical coherence tomography (OCT) were performed to see if there was any recurrence in the patients. Patients who were found to have relapsed were re-treated.
Results: There were 26 (40.6%) female cases and 38 (59.4%) male cases. The ages ranged from 55 to 88, with a mean age of 73.85±7.26. The follow-up period of the patients ranged from 5 months to 69 months; the mean was 17.65±13.48 months. When evaluated according to FFA images, 40 (62.5%) were occult, 12 (18.8%) were minimal-classical, and 12 (18.8%) were dominant-classical. After treatment, visual acuity decreased in 20% of the PDT +IVTA group and increased or remained the same in 80%. In the PDT +IVB group, blurred vision decreased by 27.6% and increased or remained the same by 72.4%. There was no statistically significant difference between the groups regarding the change in visual acuity after treatment compared to before treatment (p>0.05). In OCT, the decrease in the mean central foveal thickness (CFT) after treatment compared to the mean CFT before treatment in Group I was statistically significant (p<0.05). In Group II - the decrease in the mean CFT after treatment compared to the mean CFT before treatment was statistically significant (p<0.01). In Group I, there was no statistically significant change in the mean lesion diameter after treatment compared to the mean lesion diameter before treatment (p>0.05). However, the decrease in Group II was statistically significant (p<0.01). While the increase in CFT (central foveal thickness) and lesion diameter was more pronounced in the PDT+IVTA group post-treatment compared to the pre-treatment group, no significant difference was observed in visual acuity change within the PDT+IVTA group.
Conclusion: In the treatment of choroidal neovascularization secondary to age-related macular degeneration, the combination of Triamcinolone or Bevacizumab with photodynamic therapy has proven to be both effective and safe. This approach helps preserve the current vision and even enhance visual outcomes. Combination therapy reduces the frequency and number of monotherapies used to achieve visual success.