Frontiers in Medicine (Jul 2021)

Subthreshold Micropulse Laser vs. Conventional Laser for Central Serous Chorioretinopathy: A Randomized Controlled Clinical Trial

  • Lijun Zhou,
  • Kunbei Lai,
  • Ling Jin,
  • Chuangxin Huang,
  • Fabao Xu,
  • Yajun Gong,
  • Longhui Li,
  • Zhe Zhu,
  • Lin Lu,
  • Chenjin Jin

DOI
https://doi.org/10.3389/fmed.2021.682264
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 8

Abstract

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Purpose: To investigate the effectiveness and safety of 577-nm subthreshold micropulse laser (SML) on acute central serous chorioretinopathy (CSC).Methods: One hundred and ten patients with acute CSC were randomized to receive SML or 577-nm conventional laser (CL) treatment. Optical coherence tomography and best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) were performed before and after treatment.Results: At 3 months, the complete resolution of subretinal fluid (SRF) in 577-nm SML group (72.7%) was lower than that in CL group (89.1%) (Unadjusted RR, 0.82; P = 0.029), but it was 85.5 vs. 92.7% at 6 months (unadjusted RR, 0.92; P = 0.221). The mean LogMAR BCVA significantly improved, and the mean central foveal thickness (CFT) significantly decreased in the SML group and CL group (all P < 0.001) at 6 months. But there was no statistical difference between the two groups (all P > 0.05). In the SML group, obvious retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) damage was shown only in 3.64% at 1 month but 92.7% in the CL group (P < 0.001).Conclusions: Although 577-nm SML has a lower complete absorption of SRF compared with 577-nm CL for acute CSC at 3 months, it is similarly effective as 577-nm CL on improving retinal anatomy and function at 6 months. Importantly, 577-nm SML causes less damage to the retina.

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