Assessment of choriocapillary blood flow changes in response to half-dose photodynamic therapy in chronic central serous chorioretinopathy using optical coherence tomography angiography

Laser Treatment of Central Serous Chorioretinopathy - An Update

Laser treatment has been a mainstay for management of central serous chorioretinopathy for a few decades. Different types of lasers have been used and non-damaging retinal laser is the most recent option. The aim of this review is to provide an update on this form of treatment, based on the research published during last 5 years, in comparison with earlier studies published. A MEDLINE database search was performed with a combination of the following terms: central serous chorioretinopathy and laser photocoagulation or subthreshold laser or subthreshold micropulse laser or nanosecond laser or microsecond laser or end-point management or photodynamic therapy. Results were analyzed separately for each modality of laser treatment. Reports published in recent years confirm findings of previous research and do not distinguish treatments of this clinical entity. Among all analyzed laser options, photodynamic therapy provides the fastest and most prominent morphological improvements, including subretinal fluid resorption and reduction of choroidal thickness. This modality is also associated with fewer recurrences than with other treatments. Subthreshold micropulse laser allows the physician to maintain and, in selected cases, improve the patient's vision. Conventional photocoagulation is still effective, especially with the introduction of navigated laser systems. Despite the availability of variable laser treatment options, long-term functional improvements in chronic cases are minor for each modality. Long-lasting central serous chorioretinopathy cases with significantly altered retinal morphology do not usually present with functional improvement, despite satisfactory morphological outcomes. Early initiation of treatment has the potential to prevent visual loss and to improve the patient's quality of life.

SAFETY AND EFFICACY OF PHOTODYNAMIC THERAPY WITH CHLORIN E6 IN CHRONIC CENTRAL SEROUS CHORIORETINOPATHY

PURPOSE

To evaluate the efficacy and safety of photodynamic therapy (PDT) with chlorin E6 in chronic central serous chorioretinopathy.

METHODS

In this single-center retrospective cohort study, all patients received standard PDT with 6 mg of chlorin E6 (Fotoran E6) for each m 2 of body surface area with 50 J/cm 2 fluence and a treatment time of 83 seconds. The changes in central retinal thickness, subfoveal choroidal thickness, and best-corrected visual acuity were evaluated at the end of the follow-up. The main outcome measure was the presence of subretinal fluid at 3 months after PDT.

RESULTS

Thirty-nine eyes (32 men and 7 women, 43.7 ± 10.0 years) were included. In total, 50 PDT sessions were performed. At 3 months of follow-up, 31 of 39 (79.5%) study eyes showed complete resolution of subretinal fluid. The mean follow-up period after PDT was 15.3 ± 7.8 months. At the end of the follow-up, a complete resolution of subretinal fluid was observed in 32 of 39 (82.7%) eyes. The mean change in central retinal thickness, subfoveal choroidal thickness, and best-corrected visual acuity at the end of the follow-up was -139.7 ± 136.4 µ m, -66.8 ± 36.2 µ m, and -0.05 ± 0.08 logMAR, respectively ( P < 0.001). Neither systemic nor ocular adverse events were observed, nor were local reactions seen.

CONCLUSION

Standard PDT with chlorin E6 is an effective and safe option in the management of chronic central serous chorioretinopathy and may be considered as an alternative to the standard PDT with Visudyne.

Applications of Multimodal Imaging in Central Serous Chorioretinopathy Evaluation

Central serous chorioretinopathy (CSCR) is a macular disease characterized by serous retinal detachment commonly involving the macular region. CSCR has a wide spectrum of clinical presentations. Although a significant proportion of CSCR cases are self-limiting, patients can suffer from persistent or recurrent disease, sometimes complicated with choroidal neovascularization, resulting in permanent visual loss. Multimodal imaging, including fluorescein angiography, indocyanine green angiography, fundus autofluorescence, and optical coherence tomography, has advanced the diagnosis and classification of CSCR cases. Evolution of new imaging techniques including optical coherence tomography angiography, wide-field imaging, and en face reconstruction imaging has also contributed to better understandings of the pathophysiology of CSCR. This review article summarizes the features of multimodal imaging for CSCR and discusses the application of such features in evaluating the disease.

Correction to: Assessment of choriocapillary blood flow changes in response to half-dose photodynamic therapy in chronic central serous chorioretinopathy using optical coherence tomography angiography

An amendment to this paper has been published and can be accessed via the original article.