Fluorescein angiography-guided photodynamic therapy with half-dose verteporfin for chronic central serous chorioretinopathy.

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the results of fluorescein angiography-guided photodynamic therapy with half-dose verteporfin in the treatment of chronic central serous chorioretinopathy with focal leakage areas.

METHODS

Eight cases with a history of central serous chorioretinopathy of ≥6 months were included. All eyes had one or more focal areas of active retinal pigment epithelial leak. Photodynamic therapy was applied with half-dose verteporfin (3 mg/m²), and the spot size was set limited to the area of active leakage shown on fluorescein angiography.

RESULTS

The mean duration of the last central serous chorioretinopathy episode was 12.50 months. The mean best-corrected visual acuity improved from 20/122 to 20/60 the first month (P = 0.017) and to 20/55 the first year after treatment (P = 0.018). Seven eyes (87.5%) had improved vision 1 year after treatment, and 1 eye (12.5%) had stable vision with a mean number of 3.61 gained lines. The mean central macular thickness was reduced from 366 ± 95 μm to 217 ± 32 μm the first month (P = 0.006).

CONCLUSION

Fluorescein angiography-guided photodynamic therapy with half-dose verteporfin seems to be a rational and effective alternative to other methods in the treatment of chronic central serous chorioretinopathy with focal leakage on fluorescein angiography.