The effect of nondamaging subthreshold laser therapy in patients with chronic central serous chorioretinopathy

• Published in: Graefe's archive for clinical and experimental ophthalmology 2024-05, Vol.262 (5), p.1433-1442
• Main Authors: Lee, Seung Hoon, Lee, Jiyoung, Kim, Minhee, Roh, Young-Jung
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Acuity; Angiography; Eye; Lasers; Medicine; Medicine & Public Health; Ophthalmology; Retinal Disorders; Statistical analysis
• ISSN: 0721-832X; 1435-702X
• DOI: 10.1007/s00417-023-06315-7

Purpose To evaluate the efficacy of nondamaging subthreshold laser therapy in Korean patients with chronic central serous chorioretinopathy (cCSC). Methods This retrospective interventional case series included 31 patients (31 eyes) with cCSC who underwent nondamaging laser therapy using Endpoint Management (EpM) software. Since a barely visible burn of the test spot was defined as 100% pulse energy, 30% pulse energy with a 200-μm spot was titrated to treat the macular area based on EpM settings. A 30% pulse laser with a spacing of 0.25-beam diameter was applied to cover the macular area where hyperfluorescent leaks were observed on fluorescein angiography. Changes in central macular thickness (CMT), subretinal fluid (SRF) height, subfoveal choroidal thickness (SCT), and logarithm of the minimum angle of resolution (logMAR) best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) were measured at baseline and after 3 and 6 months. If the subretinal fluid persisted for 3 months, retreatment was performed. Results At 6 months post-treatment, the complete SRF resolution rate was 48.39% (15/31 eyes), and the partial SRF resolution rate was 12.90% (4/31 eyes). The change in mean BCVA (logMAR) was not significant (0.31 ± 0.29 at the baseline and 0.31 ± 0.40 at month 6) ( p  = 0.943). At the baseline, the mean CMT (μm) decreased from 350.74 ± 112.76 at baseline to 239.71 ± 130.25 at month 6 ( p