Abstract: Objective To investigate the potential long-term benefit of combination of intravitreal ranibizumab with photodynamic therapy for the treatment for wet age-related macular degeneration(wAMD). Methods A retrospective review was conducted on 11 eyes of 11 patients that received intravitreal ranibizumab(IVR)0.5 mg combined with standard photodynamic therapy(PDT)within 7 days, and thereafter retreatment as required with intravitreal ranibizumab monotherapy for at least 18 months. Collected data included: best-corrected visual acuity(BCVA), central retinal thickness(CRT), intraocular pressure(IOP)and number of retreatment. Results The mean BCVA was apparently improved from baseline at the 2nd, 3rd and 6th month of follow-up compared to baseline(P<0.05, showing improvement of 7.31±15.00 letters from baseline at eighteen months of follow-up. )Meanwhile, CRT decreased significantly compared with pre-treatment(P<0.05). During the treatment, IOP kept steady with no statistical difference between pre- and post-treatment.The study eyes received an average of 1.55 times(range: 0 to 8)of intravitreal anti-VEGF reagent injection during the total 18 months period after initial combination therapy. Conclusion Combination therapy could reduce times of intravitreal anit-VEGF reagent injection and maintaine long-lasting effect on wAMD.

Key words: Wet age-related macular degeneration, Vascular endothelial growth factor, Photodynamic therapy, Combination therapy