Pediatric choroidal neovascularization: Etiology and treatment outcomes with anti-vascular endothelial growth factors

Abstract

Purpose: To describe the etiology and treatment outcomes of choroidal neovascularization (CNV) in a pediatric population with intravitreal anti-vascular endothelial growth factors (VEGF) Methods: Retrospective single center interventional case series. A total of 26 eyes of 23 consecutive pediatric patients with CNV of various etiologies were treated with intravitreal injection of anti-VEGF agents. Results: There were 15 males (65.2%) and eight females (34.8%), diagnosed with CNV during the study period. The mean age at presentation with CNV was 11.7 ± 3.3 years, (range 4–16 years) and the mean follow was 28.1 ± 18 months, (range 8–72 months). Inflammatory CNV was the most common etiology. The mean best corrected visual acuity (BCVA) and mean central macular thickness (CMT) at presentation, were logMAR 0.8 ± 0.3 and 367.6 ± 134.8 µm respectively. At the final visit, CNV in all eyes remained regressed with significant improvement in mean BCVA to logMAR 0.4 ± 0.4 ( p < 0.0001) and mean CMT to 242.5 ± 82.4 µm ( p < 0.0001). A mean of two intravitreal injections per eye was required for CNV regression. Conclusion: Intravitreal anti-VEGF therapy for pediatric CNV is an effective treatment in majority of affected eyes.