Factors related to changes in visual symptoms after successful photodynamic therapy in central serous chorioretinopathy

PLoS One. 2023 Apr 21;18(4):e0284899. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0284899. eCollection 2023.

Abstract

To investigate biomarkers related to visual symptom and best corrected visual acuity (BCVA) improvement after photodynamic therapy (PDT) for central serous chorioretinopathy. This retrospective cross-sectional study involved 42 consecutive eyes, from 42 patients who underwent successful PDT, divided into two groups according to improvement in subjective visual complaints: complete (20 eyes) and incomplete recovery (22 eyes). The clinical characteristics of each group, including central foveal thickness (CFT), foveal avascular zone (FAZ) area, and degree of change in signal voiding of the choriocapillaris on optical coherence tomography angiography, were compared. Correlations between best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) and baseline clinical features were investigated. At baseline, CFT and FAZ areas showed significant differences between the two groups (all p < 0.05). Multiple binary logistic regression analysis revealed that greater CFT predicted complete recovery from visual complaints (p = 0.002). Reduction or disappearance of signal voiding in the choriocapillaris 6 months post-PDT occurred more frequently in the complete recovery group (p < 0.05). FAZ area before PDT correlated with BCVA before and 6 months after PDT and BCVA improvement during the study period (all p < 0.05). CFT and FAZ area before PDT correlated with completeness of visual symptom recovery after PDT. Smaller FAZ area before PDT correlated with better BCVA before and after treatment.

MeSH terms

  • Central Serous Chorioretinopathy* / diagnostic imaging
  • Central Serous Chorioretinopathy* / drug therapy
  • Chronic Disease
  • Cross-Sectional Studies
  • Fluorescein Angiography
  • Humans
  • Photochemotherapy* / methods
  • Photosensitizing Agents / therapeutic use
  • Porphyrins*
  • Retrospective Studies
  • Tomography, Optical Coherence
  • Verteporfin / therapeutic use

Substances

  • Photosensitizing Agents
  • Verteporfin
  • Porphyrins

Grants and funding

The author(s) received no specific funding for this work.