Purpose: To evaluate the efficacy and safety of photodynamic therapy (PDT) with chlorin E6 in chronic central serous chorioretinopathy (CSCR).
Methods: This single-center, retrospective cohort study. All patients received standard PDT with 6 mg of chlorin E6 (Fotoran E6) for each m2 of body surface area with 50 J/cm2 fluence and a treatment time of 83 seconds. The changes in central retinal thickness (CRT), subfoveal choroidal thickness (SCT), and best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) were evaluated at the end of the follow-up. Main outcome measure was the presence of subretinal fluid (SRF) at three months after PDT.
Results: Thirty-nine eyes (32 males and 7 females, 43.7 ± 10.0 years) were included. In total, 50 PDT sessions were performed. At three months of follow-up, 31 out of 39 (79.5%) study eyes showed complete resolution of SRF. Mean follow-up period after PDT was 15.3 ± 7.8 months. At the end of follow-up, a complete resolution of SRF was observed in 32 out of 39 (82.7%) eyes. Mean change in CRT, SCT, and BCVA at the end of the follow-up was -139.7 ± 136.4 µm, -66.8 ± 36.2 µm, and -0.05 ± 0.08 LogMAR, respectively (p < 0.001). Neither systemic nor ocular adverse events were observed, nor were local reactions seen.
Conclusion: Standard PDT with chlorin E6 is an effective and safe option in the management of chronic CSCR and may be considered as an alternative to the standard PDT with Visudyne.