Subthreshold micropulse 532-nm green laser treatment of acute central serous chorioretinopathy: 18-month results

Abstract

Purpose The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy and safety of 532-nm green subthreshold micropulse laser (GSML) as a treatment for acute central serous chorioretinopathy (CSCR). Patients and methods This was a prospective study that included 42 eyes of 42 patients with acute CSCR treated with IRIDEX IQ 532-nm GSML. The study was conducted at Minia University Hospital and Genaidy Ophthalmology Center, Minia, Egypt, between October 2019 and May 2022. All patients were subjected to complete ophthalmological examination, fluorescein angiography, and optical coherence tomography at baseline and each follow-up visit at 1, 3, and 18 months after laser treatment. The outcome measures included the change in best-corrected visual acuity from baseline, optical coherence tomography-measured central macular thickness, as well as the resolution of subretinal fluid (SRF). Results The mean baseline LogMAR best-corrected visual acuity was 0.41±0.27 and significantly improved to 0.29±0.17 at 1 month (P=0.001), 0.21±0.14 at 3 months (P=0.0001), and 0.16±0.12 at 18 months (P=0.0001). The mean central macular thickness was 438.8±141.9 μm before treatment with a significant reduction to 352.8±60.6 μm after 1 month (P=0.005), 291.1±55.3 μm after 3 months (P=0.0001), and 241.8±24.5 μm after 18 months (P=0.0001). Regarding the SRF, it was absent in 40 (95.2%) eyes at the 3-month visit, whereas recurrence was present in only two (4.8%) eyes, with no cases of persistent SRF at the last follow-up. No complications were encountered during or after laser treatment. Conclusions GSML may be a safe and effective treatment modality for the acute form of CSCR with a low rate of disease recurrence.

Keywords

• acute central serous chorioretinopathy
• diode laser
• subthreshold laser