PURPOSE

To determine the efficacy of photodynamic therapy (PDT) and indocyanine green angiography (ICGA) findings for treating chronic central serous chorioretinopathy (CSC).

DESIGN

Observational case series.

METHODS

Thirty-two eyes of 27 patients with chronic CSC and symptoms for at least 6 months were recruited. The minimum follow-up was 1 year. The total PDT energy was reduced to about 36 to 42 mJ/cm(2). The baseline middle-phase ICGA findings were classified as intense, intermediate, or no hyperfluorescence depending on the degree of hyperfluorescence. The resolution of the subretinal fluid and recurrence rates were assessed in relation to each ICGA finding at baseline.

RESULTS

ICGA before PDT showed intense hyperfluorescence in 23 eyes (72%), intermediate hyperfluorescence in 6 eyes (19%), and no hyperfluorescence in 3 eyes (9%). The subretinal fluid resolved completely 3 months after 1 application of PDT in 23 eyes (100%) with intense hyperfluorescence, 6 eyes (100%) with intermediate hyperfluorescence, and no eyes (0%) with no hyperfluorescence. In the last group, the subretinal fluid did not resolve throughout the follow-up period despite additional applications of PDT. The subretinal fluid recurred in 7 of 29 eyes (24%) in which the subretinal fluid resolved at 3 months; recurrence was frequent in eyes with intermediate hyperfluorescence (5 eyes; 83%).

CONCLUSION

The PDT success rate in eyes with chronic CSC depends on the degree of hyperpermeability on ICGA. PDT is not effective or the recurrence rate is predicted to be high in eyes without intense hyperfluorescence.