Abstract:AIM: To investigate the clinical efficacy of intravitreal ranibizumab injection(IVR)combined with 577 nm subthreshold micropulse laser(STML)in the treatment of pathological myopic choroidal neovascularization(PM-CNV).
METHODS: Totally 52 patients(52 eyes)who were diagnosed with PM-CNV at Baotou Eye Hospital from December 2021 to December 2023 were selected in the study. Patients were randomly assigned in a 1:1 ratio using digital randomization to two groups: control group(26 eyes)treated with IVR monotherapy, and experimental group(26 eyes)was treated with IVR-STML combined therapy. The best corrected visual acuity(BCVA), central macular thickness(CMT), CNV area, and total number of IVR were compared before treatment and at 3, 6, 9, and 12 mo after treatment.
RESULTS: The general data of the two groups before treatment were comparable. The BCVA was improved, CMT was decreased, and CNV area was reduced at 3, 6, 9, and 12 mo after the initial treatment(all P<0.05). The experimental group exhibited significantly lower CMT at 3 and 6 mo, and reduced CNV area at 6, 9, and 12 mo compared to the control group(all P<0.05). The average times of IVR in the experimental group was significantly less than that of the control group(P<0.05).
CONCLUSION:Both IVR monotherapy and IVR-STML combined therapy for PM-CNV can improve BCVA with comparable improvement. IVR-STML therapy offers durable macular stabilization, effectively controls CNV progression, and reduces anti-VEGF injections. It lowers treatment burden and improves long-term outcomes and is recommended as a preferred treatment strategy.
