Utility of an additional photodynamic therapy session after multiple failed PDT treatments in chronic central serous chorioretinopathy

Photodiagnosis Photodyn Ther. 2022 Sep:39:102953. doi: 10.1016/j.pdpdt.2022.102953. Epub 2022 Jun 9.

Abstract

Purpose: To assess the efficacy of an additional photodynamic therapy (PDT) in chronic central serous chorioretinopathy (cCSCR) patients who have two or more previous failed PDTs.

Methods: Ten eyes of 10 patients with cCSCR who had received two or more PDTs without complete resolution of the subretinal fluid (SRF) or with early recurrence (before 3 months) were included. An additional half-fluence PDT was performed. Swept-source optical coherence tomography (OCT) and OCT angiography were performed before, 3 days, 1 month, 3 months, 6 months and 12 months after treatment. Age, gender, best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA), subfoveal choroidal thickness, SRF and vessel occlusion in the choriocapillaris (CC) were collected.

Results: The median number of previous PDTs was 3 (range 2 to 4). BCVA before and 12 months after treatment was 72 letters (50 to 95) and 78 letters (55 to 100) (p=0.094). Median initial SRF was 94 µm (50 to 306), being 0 µm (range 0 to 81) at the end of the follow-up (p=0.007). After the additional PDT, 8 out of 10 patients had a complete SRF resorption. All the patients except one who had a complete response (7/8) had an occlusion in the CC 3 days after PDT.

Conclusion: Despite previous failed PDTs in cCSCR, good anatomical results can be achieved, this being more likely if an early vessel occlusion in the CC is observed. Even when the BCVA did not improve, the high rate of fluid resolution could justify the additional PDT treatment in order to maintain visual function.

Keywords: Central serous chorioretinopathy; Optical coherence tomography angiography (OCTA); Photodynamic therapy.

MeSH terms

  • Central Serous Chorioretinopathy* / drug therapy
  • Chronic Disease
  • Fluorescein Angiography / methods
  • Humans
  • Photochemotherapy* / methods
  • Photosensitizing Agents / therapeutic use
  • Porphyrins* / therapeutic use
  • Retrospective Studies
  • Tomography, Optical Coherence / methods
  • Verteporfin / therapeutic use
  • Visual Acuity

Substances

  • Photosensitizing Agents
  • Porphyrins
  • Verteporfin