Photodynamic treatment without verteporfin in chronic central serous chorioretinopathy.

PURPOSE

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the clinical and optical coherence tomography (OCT) results of a newly proposed technique to treat chronic central serous chorioretinopathy (cCSR) and to determine its efficacy in cCSR treatment. This technique is termed photostatic treatment (PST).

STUDY DESIGN

A prospective study which includes 44 eyes of 38 patients were treated with PST and followed up for at least 24 months.

METHODS

PST was performed by administering light energy delivered to the area using a 689 nm diode laser. PST was performed using the conventional fluence rate (60 J/cm) with a conventional irradiation time of 83 s. Each patient was treated with 3 consecutive laser applications. The primary outcome measures were complete resolution of subretinal fluid and improvement in best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA).

RESULTS

The median central macular thickness (CMT) was significantly lower at the final visit after treatment than the initial presentation (median CMT 332,5µ versus 234µ, p < 0.001). Complete resolution of the fluid at the last visit could be achieved in 31 (70.4%) eyes with a significant improvement in median BCVA (p < 0.001).

CONCLUSION

The application of laser treatment without a photosensitizing agent proved effective in controlling cCSR, and we propose the term 'photostatic treatment' for this new technique.