Time-course and characteristic morphology of retinal changes following combination of verteporfin therapy and intravitreal triamcinolone in neovascular age-related macular degeneration.

Objective: To identify characteristic morphological changes of the retina over time and the association with visual function after combined photodynamic therapy (PDT) and intravitreal triamcinolone (IVTA).

Methods: In this retrospective study, 40 patients (40 eyes) were treated with PDT and same-day IVTA. Optical coherence tomography (OCT), fluorescein angiography (FA) and evaluation of distance visual acuity (VA) were performed. The anatomical changes within intra- and subretinal compartments and their detailed analysis and grading were the main outcome measures.

Results: Intraretinal fluid (IRF) and subretinal fluid (SRF) by OCT decreased until 3 months (p < 0.01). At month 3, intraretinal cystoid spaces (ICS) had resolved or decreased in 84% of eyes, SRF in 58% and pigment epithelial detachment (PED) in 50%. Mean best-corrected VA (BCVA) improved significantly at month 1 (p < 0.01). Mean central retinal thickness (CRT) increased from 334 microm at baseline to 439 microm at day 1 (p = 0.03) before decreasing to 286 microm at day 7 (p = 0.06), 233 microm at month 1 (p = 0.001) and 255 microm at month 3 (p = 0.001).

Conclusions: Combined verteporfin/IVTA therapy induces distinct time-related effects on the retina within the different intra- and subretinal compartments.