Photodynamic therapy for chronic central serous chorioretinopathy.
OBJECTIVE
This study aimed to evaluate the efficacy of photodynamic therapy (PDT) in treating chronic central serous chorioretinopathy (CSC).


METHODS
We describe a non-randomized, multicentre, interventional case series. A total of 82 eyes of 72 patients with chronic CSC were treated by conventional PDT. LogMAR best corrected visual acuity (BCVA) (ETDRS charts) and central foveal thickness (CFT) measured by optical coherence tomography before and after PDT, number of PDT treatments and complications were used as outcome indicators.


RESULTS
Mean follow-up was 12 +/- 10 months and mean age was 46 +/- 10 years. Mean logMAR BCVA changed from 0.53 (standard deviation [SD] 0.43) before PDT to 0.38 (SD 0.41) at 3 months and 0.48 (SD 0.50) at 6 months (p < 0.0001 and p = 0.007, respectively, Student's t-test for paired data). Mean BCVA at the end of follow-up was 0.37 (SD 0.45; p < 0.0001 from baseline). Macular detachment was resolved and subretinal fluid (SRF) disappeared in all cases. Central foveal thickness decreased from 325 microm (SD 95), to 229 microm (SD 70) at 1 month after PDT, 206 microm (SD 68) at 3 months, and 202 microm (SD 76) at 6 months (all p < 0.0001, Student's t-test for paired data). No cases developed severe visual loss or complications derived from PDT. Reactive retinal pigment epithelium hypertrophy appeared in nine cases after PDT.


CONCLUSIONS
Photodynamic therapy with verteporfin may be useful in chronic CSC for improving BCVA and reducing SRF and CFT. Randomized studies with longer follow-up are needed to assess the real role of this treatment in chronic CSC.
Ruiz-Moreno
José M
JM
Department of Ophthalmology, Castilla La Mancha University, Albacete, Spain. josemaria.ruiz@uclm.es <josemaria.ruiz@uclm.es>
Lugo
Francisco L
FL
Armadá
Felix
F
Silva
Rufino
R
Montero
Javier A
JA
Arevalo
J Fernando
JF
Arias
Luis
L
Gómez-Ulla
Francisco
F
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D056833:Central Serous Chorioretinopathy / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology; D002908:Chronic Disease; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D005584:Fovea Centralis / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010778:Photochemotherapy; D017319:Photosensitizing Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D011166:Porphyrins / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D041623:Tomography, Optical Coherence; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D000077362:Verteporfin; D014792:Visual Acuity / Q000502:physiology
D017319:Photosensitizing Agents; D011166:Porphyrins; D000077362:Verteporfin