Effects of oral bisphosphonates on myopic choroidal neovascularisation over 2 years of follow-up: comparison with anti-VEGF therapy and photodynamic therapy. A pilot study

Background Choroidal neovascularisation is often associated with pathological myopia. Bisphosphonates (BP), the preferred drug for treatment of osteoporosis, are known to have anti-angiogenic effects. Objective To compare the therapeutic effects of oral BP with anti-vascular endothelial growth factor therapy (anti-VEGF) and photodynamic therapy (PDT) for myopic choroidal neovascularisation (mCNV) over 2 years of follow-up. Methods One hundred eyes of 96 consecutive patients with mCNV who underwent oral BP treatment (alendronate 5 mg/day or 35 mg/week), anti-VEGF therapy, PDT or observation only were followed up for 2 years. The best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) and the central retinal thickness (CRT) in optical coherence tomography were compared among the treatment groups. Results The mean BCVA of the patients was maintained for up to 2 years in the BP and PDT groups. In the anti-VEGF group, the mean BCVA was significantly improved but was significantly worse in the no-treatment group. The visual outcomes were significantly better in the BP, PDT and anti-VEGF groups than the no-treatment group over 2 years of follow-up (-0.28, -0.26 and -0.39 logMAR units, p=0.032, 0.021 and 0.0004, respectively). The mean CRT was significantly decreased in all treatment groups (-84, -121 and -122 mm, p=0.0025, 0.017 and 0.000025, respectively). Conclusions Oral BP should be investigated further as possible therapeutic and preventive drugs for mCNV.