Anatomical Retinal Changes after Photodynamic Therapy in Chronic Central Serous Chorioretinopathy

Abstract

Purpose. To evaluate anatomical retinal changes measured by spectral-domain optical coherence tomography (SD-OCT), after applying photodynamic therapy (PDT) for treatment of chronic central serous chorioretinopathy (CSC). Methods. A retrospective analysis was conducted on 43 patients (48 eyes) with chronic CSC treated with PDT. Visual acuity (VA), central retinal thickness (CRT), outer nuclear layer (ONL) thickness, subretinal fluid (SRF), and photoreceptor ellipsoid zone (EZ) measured by SD-OCT were collected at baseline and at 3, 6, and 12 months after PDT. Differences between normally distributed variables were calculated by a paired-sample t-test; p<0.05 was considered statistically significant. Results. Mean age was 50 ± 9.8 years. Mean time from diagnosis to PDT was 12.5 months. Baseline VA was 0.51 ± 0.24 and significantly improved (p<0.001) to 0.74 ± 0.26 one year after PDT. CRT and SRF significantly decreased (p<0.001) at 3, 6, and 12 months after treatment. ONL thickness and EZ did not significantly change at any point during follow-up. Conclusions. Not significant changes were found in the ONL or EZ 12 months after PDT.