To compare the demographics, clinical presentation, and outcomes of intravitreal (IV) anti-VEGF monotherapy in the management of treatment-naïve polypoidal choroidal vasculopathy (PCV) and neovascular age-related macular degeneration (nAMD) in Nigerians.

This is a retrospective, interventional, comparative study. Data obtained from consecutively treated PCV and nAMD patients include age, sex, laterality, symptom duration, LogMAR visual acuity (pre- & post-treatment), occurrence of vitreous hemorrhage, optical coherence tomography central macular thickness (CMT), and duration of clinic visits. Data was analyzed using IBM SPSS version 22.0, P < 0.05.

The sample population was 162 patients/191 eyes (nAMD 85 patients/106 eyes, and PCV 77 patients/85 eyes). The nAMD patients were older than the PCV patients (72.48 +/− 8.81 years versus 62.04 +/− 10.50 years) p = 0.000. Females constituted 45.9% of the nAMD and 57.1% of the PCV patients, p = 0.1. Symptom duration: nAMD 11 months and PCV 12 months. Bilaterality: nAMD > PCV (38% versus 19%) p = 0.036. Vitreous hemorrhage: more common in PCV (42% versus 19%) p = 0.001. nAMD patients had poorer baseline vision (LogMAR 1.4 versus LogMAR 1.2) p = 0.2, thicker maculae (361 microns versus 331 microns), and received more mean intravitreal anti-VEGF injections (4 versus 3). Visual and anatomical outcomes were better for PCV; final vision (LogMAR 0.89 versus LogMAR 1.04), p = 0.064, final CMT (247 microns versus 331 microns), p = 0.05. nAMD patients had higher rate of >12 months follow-up (57.6% versus 35.0%) p = 0.002.

Demographic and clinical differences exist between PCV and nAMD. Though chronic presentation for both diseases is common, treatment improves vision and anatomy in most patients, moreso in PCV. Earlier treatment will likely yield better outcomes.