AIM: To report the appearance of choriocapillaris atrophy after combined high dose intravitreal triamcinolone acetonide (TA) and photodynamic therapy (PDT) to treat choroidal neovascularization (CNV) associated with age related macular degeneration (AMD).METHODS: The present study was retrospective about non-randomized interventional case series. Fifty-one consecutive eyes with subfoveal (all types) CNV associated with AMD were treated by PDT and intravitreal (19.4±2.1)mg per 0.1mL TA at the Alicante Institute of Ophthalmology. The appearance of macular choriocapillaris and retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) atrophy was considered at two years follow-up. Thirty consecutive eyes treated by PDT alone, matched for age, sex, and type and size of CNV were considered as control group. RESULTS: Twenty-one of 47 eyes in the study group (45%) and 7 of 30 eyes in the control group (23%) developed macular RPE and choriocapillaris atrophy in the treated area at month 24 (P =0.04, Chi-square test). The greatest diameter of the atrophic areas averaged (5 044±1 666)μm in the study groupvs(4 345±1 550)μm in the control group. Mean final best corrected visual acuity (logarithm of minimal angle of resolution) was (0.87±033) in the cases with RPE atrophyvs(0.66±0.26) in the cases with no RPE atrophy in the study group (P=011, Mann-Whitney U test). CONCLUSION: The association of high doses of intravitreal TA and PDT may increase the risk for RPE and choriocapillaris atrophy.

AIM: To report the use of intravitreal bevacizumab associated with cataract surgery to prevent the re-activation of choroidal neovascularization (CNV) secondary to age-related macular degeneration (AMD).METHODS: Twelve eyes from 12 patients who had been previously treated for wet AMD and presented cataracts were operated on by clear cornea phacoemulsification with intraocular lens implantation, and an intravitreal injection of 1.25mg (0.05mL) bevacizumab was performed by the end of the procedure. The results were evaluated in terms of visual acuity improvement and reactivation of CNV, as determined by the appearance of fluid in optical coherence tomography (OCT). RESULTS: Best-corrected visual acuity(BCVA) significantly improved after surgery (P<0.01 and P=0.049 for BCVA after CNV closure and BCVA after cataract development respectively, Student's t test for paired data). Mean follow-up after cataract surgery was 11.8 months (SD 6.1, range 3 to 22 months). CNV reactivation or appearance of new CNV lesions was not observed in any case during follow-up. CONCLUSION: Intravitreal bevacizumab immediately after cataract surgery may prevent CNV reactivation in patients previously treated from CNV secondary to AMD.