The effect of photodynamic therapy on macular sensitivity in eyes with acute central serous chorioretinopathy.

Background: To evaluate the effect of half-fluence rate indocyanine green angiography (ICGA)-guided verteporfin photodynamic therapy (PDT) on macular sensitivity (MS) in eyes with acute symptomatic central serous chorioretinopathy (CSC).

Methods: Single-center consecutive case series by retrospective chart review. Sixteen eyes of 16 patients with acute CSC of 3 months duration or less, treated with half-fluence (25 mJ/cm(2)) ICGA-guided verteporfin PDT were reviewed. At baseline and after 1, 3, and 6 months, all patients underwent MS testing of the central 20 °, MS testing of the retinal area covered by the PDT laser spot (MSLS), and evaluation of fixation stability (FS) for the central two degrees with the MP-1 microperimeter (Nidek, Vigonza, Italy).

Results: Macular sensitivity improved from 16.4 ± 3.0 dB at baseline (n = 16) to 18.2 ± 2.4 dB (p < 0.001) at 1 month (n = 16). At the 3-month (n = 13) and 6-month (n = 12) follow-up, MS stabilized at 19.5 ± 0.9 dB (p = 0.21) and 19.0 ± 1.3 dB (p = 0.74), without changes when compared to respective precedent follow-up. Mean MSLS improved from 12.9 ± 5.4 dB at baseline to 16.4 ± 4.9 dB (p < 0.001) after 1 month. At the 3- and 6-month follow-up, MSLS was 19.1 ± 1.2 dB (p= 0.1) and 18.9 ± 1.9 dB (p = 0.8) respectively. Mean FS at the central 2 ° was 78.8 ± 30.4 % before treatment and 81.8 ± 29.5 % (p = 0.7), 81.9 ± 27.5 % (p = 0.7) and 83.6 ± 17.1 % (p = 0.5) respectively 1, 3 and 6 months after treatment.

Conclusion: Half-fluence (25 mJ/cm(2)) PDT significantly increased mean MS of central 20 ° and mean MSLS, in eyes with acute symptomatic CSC. Fixation stability was stable at baseline and throughout 6 months of follow-up.