Photodynamic Therapy for Chronic Central Serous Chorioretinopathy: Multicenter Study of 65 Cases

PURPOSE: To determine the effect of photodynamic therapy (PDT) on patients with chronic central serous chorioretinopahty (CSC). METHODS: This was a retrospective multicenter study. We collected demographic and ophthalmic data for patients with chronic CSC who were treated with PDT from 16 institutions in Korea. The best corrected visual acuity (BCVA), ophthalmoscopic finding and optical coherence tomography at baseline and follow-up visits were compared longitudinally. RESULTS: Sixty-five eyes of 65 patients were recruited. Males (51 patients, 78.5%) outnumbered females (14 patients, 21.5%). The mean age was 46.4+/-10.0 years of age (28~69). By 1 month, mean BCVA improved from 0.47 to 0.37 (logarithm of the minimum angle of resolution) (P <0.01). This BCVA increased throughout 6 months. Subretinal fluid resolved partially or completely in 89.1% of the patients. Central macular thickness (CMT) decreased from 303.4 to 168.7 micrometer. The amount of change in CMT after PDT was correlated to the female sex and prePDT CMT. At 3 months after PDT, the amount of change in BCVA was significantly related to that of change of CMT (p <0.05). Adverse events were reported in 4 cases, however, most were mild. CONCLUSIONS: PDT was effective and safe for treating chronic CSC.

Choroidal Ne ovascularization in Patients with Chronic Central Serous Chorioretinopathy

Chronic central serous chorioretinopathy[CSC], which also has been termed diffuse retinal pigment epitheliopathy, is defined as a sensory retinal detachment associated with areas of RPE atrophy and pigment mottling. Fluorescein angiographic finding includes areas of granular hyperfluo-rescence and one or many subtle leaks. In older age group, choroidal neo-vascularization[CNV]may develop as a complication. We investigated the clinical features and performed fluorescein angiography[FAG], indocyanine green[ICG]angiography in 10 patients with CNV among 32 patients with chronic CSC. The location of CNV was extrafoveal[3 eyes]and juxtafoveal[7 eyes]. Associated fundus findings were RPE atrophy[8 eyes], PED[5 eyes], serous RD[4 eyes], subretinal hemorrhage[4eyes]. ICG findings were hypo-fluorescence[8 eyes], choroidal hyperpermeability[7 eyes], choroidal delayed filling[5 eyes]. Choroidal neovascularization was identified only with ICG angiography in 6 out of 10 cases. Laser photocoagulation was performed using ICG angiography in 6 cases. Visual acuity was improved in 4 out of 10 cases, and unchanged in 3 out of 10 cases. Therefore, we suggest that ICG angiography may be used as an important device for the diagnosis and management of CNV in patients with chronic CSC. Visual prognosis of CNV in chronic CSC seems to be relatively good.