ASSOCIATION OF FLOW SIGNALS WITHIN POLYPS ON OPTICAL COHERENCE TOMOGRAPHY ANGIOGRAPHY WITH TREATMENT RESPONSES AFTER COMBINATION THERAPY FOR POLYPOIDAL CHOROIDAL VASCULOPATHY

Purpose: To evaluate the changes of blood circulation within the polypoidal lesions by OCT angiography in eyes with polypoidal choroidal vasculopathy after combination therapy with aflibercept and photodynamic therapy. Methods: A total of 46 eyes from 46 patients who underwent the combination therapy for polypoidal choroidal vasculopathy were followed for more than 6 months. OCT angiography, covering an area 6 mm(2) x 6 mm(2) including the macula, were performed at baseline, 2 weeks, and 3 months and 6 months post-treatment. Results: The subretinal fluid resolved within 3 months after treatment in 44 eyes (95.7%), and 27 eyes (58.7%) showed no recurrence, with no additional treatment. Seventeen eyes (37.0%) showed recurrence, and two eyes (4.3%) showed poor response. On OCT angiography at 2 weeks after treatment, flow signals were detected in 3 of 27 eyes (11.1%) without recurrence and in 8 of 19 eyes (42.1%) with recurrence or poor responses. A detectable flow signal at 2 weeks was significantly associated with recurrence or poor response (P = 0.032). Conclusion: Persistent flow signals within polyps on OCT angiography at 2 weeks after combination therapy suggest less effectiveness of the initial treatment.