PURPOSE: To determine the association of age-related maculopathy susceptibility 2 (ARMS2) gene polymorphisms with the phenotype of typical neovascular age-related macular degeneration (tAMD) and polypoidal choroidal vasculopathy (PCV) and the effects of photodynamic therapy (PDT). METHODS: The single nucleotide polymorphisms at rs10490924 (A69S) in ARMS2 of 68 tAMD and 119 PCV patients who underwent PDT were genotyped using the TaqMan assay. The baseline best corrected visual acuity (BCVA) and lesion size were compared among the three genotypes at rs10490924. A multivariate regression analysis was performed to evaluate the influence of the baseline BCVA, greatest linear dimension (GLD), and lesion phenotype (tAMD or PCV) on the association of rs10490924 with the BCVA 12 months after the first PDT. RESULTS: The mean lesion size was significantly different among the GG, GT, and TT genotypes at rs10490924 in the PCV group, although no significant differences were detected in the tAMD group. PCV patients with a G allele had significantly better vision at 3 months after the initial PDT. tAMD patients with a TT genotype had significantly poorer vision at 12 months after the first PDT. In the multivariate regression analysis, the additive model of the G allele at rs10490924 was associated with a significantly better BCVA 12 months after the first PDT in tAMD and PCV patients. CONCLUSIONS: ARMS2 variants are likely associated with the phenotype and the effects of PDT in tAMD and PCV.