AIM: To evaluate the efficacy of anti- vascular endothelial growth factor(VEGF)and photodynamic therapy(PDT)on pathological myopia(PM)combined with choroidal neovascularization(CNV).

METHODS: Forty-three patients(45 eyes)diagnosed by fundus fluorescein angiography(FFA), indocyanine green angiography(ICGA)and optical coherence tomography(OCT)with PM combined with macular CNV were recruited in this study. The patients were randomly divided into two groups for different treatments, intravitreal injection with Ranibizumab(20 patients, 22 eyes)and PDT(23 patients, 23 eyes). After treatment, all patients had been followed up monthly for 12mo. The further treatments were operated according to referral situations. The best corrected visual acuity(BCVA)was recorded with the ETDRS chart and the mean defect(MD)of the center 10° visual field was measured. At the last follow-up, the therapy efficacy was determined by ETDRS numbers and MD and analyzed.

RESULTS: Before treatment, there was no significant difference on the baseline in ETDRS and MD between ranibizumab group and PDT group(P>0.05). After 12mo treatment, the ETDRS number in ranibizumab group(39.23±20.06)significantly increased(by 5.88±9.03, P<0.05), but the PDT group(37.38±16.95)was not significantly improved(by 0.33±6.94, P>0.05). The MD in ranibizumab group decreased significantly(P<0.05), and no significant change was found in PDT group(P>0.05).

CONCLUSION: In the treatment of macular CNV complicated by the PM, ranibizumab injection can improve visual function better than PDT.