title: Transpupillary thermotherapy for subfoveal leaks in central serous chorioretinopathy.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate transpupillary thermotherapy (TTT) for the treatment of subfoveal focal leaks in central serous chorioretinopathy (CSC).
  
  
  METHODS
  The patients presenting with long-standing CSC, but without the features of chronicity, were offered the options of TTT, photodynamic therapy (for subfoveal leaks), photocoagulation (for extrafoveal leaks), or observation. The patients who opted for TTT or observation were enrolled in this study. TTT was performed using a spot diameter of 0.5 mm for 1 min. Best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA), status of macular detachment, and fluorescein angiographic status were evaluated at 1, 3, and 6 months.
  
  
  RESULTS
  This study included 39 patients (40 eyes) with CSC between 4 and 12 months, of whom 25 patients (25 eyes) opted for TTT for subfoveal leaks. Fourteen patients (15 eyes) were followed up without treatment. The groups were comparable in age, sex, and baseline BCVA. Minimum follow-up was 6 months. Within 3 months, TTT resulted in the resolution of the serous detachment in 24 (96%) eyes with a single session; one eye required a repeat treatment. Eight control eyes demonstrated persisting CSC at the last follow-up. Visual acuity improved in 23 (92%) treated and five (33%) control eyes; the difference in outcome was statistically significant (P<0.001). One case developed choroidal neovascularization, which resolved with visual recovery to 20/20 after repeat-TTT.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  TTT resulted in the resolution of CSC with subfoveal angiographic leaks with significant improvement in visual outcome, in comparison to the natural history of persistent CSC.
authors.affiliation: Retina--Vitreous Service, Aravind Eye Hospital and Postgraduate Institute of Ophthalmology, Madurai, TN, India. daksh@aravind.org
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Shukla
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Kolluru
authors.forename: T P
authors.initials: TP
authors.lastname: Vignesh
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Karthikprakash
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Kim
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002829:Choroid; D015862:Choroid Diseases / Q000628:therapy*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D005584:Fovea Centralis; D006801:Humans; D006979:Hyperthermia, Induced / Q000379:methods*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012164:Retinal Diseases / Q000628:therapy*; D013223:Statistics as Topic; D014054:Tomography; D014792:Visual Acuity