A Multicenter Study on the Long-term Outcomes of Half-dose Photodynamic Therapy in Chronic Central Serous Chorioretinopathy

Purpose To investigate long-term efficacy and prognostic factors of half-dose photodynamic therapy (PDT) in chronic central serous chorioretinopathy (CSCR). Design Retrospective multicenter interventional case series. Methods Patients with chronic CSCR undergoing half-dose PDT between 2005 and 2011 were reviewed. Main outcome measures included resolution of serous retinal detachment (SRD) with single PDT, change in best-corrected visual acuities (BCVAs), and recurrence rate of CSCR at 36 months after PDT. Prognostic factors of visual outcome and recurrence of CSCR after PDT were identified with multivariate regression analysis. Results A total of 136 eyes of 123 patients were followed up for 57.7 ± 16.2 months. At 36 months after PDT, 132 eyes (97.1%) achieved complete resolution of SRD with single PDT and 4 eyes (2.9%) had CSCR recurrence. The mean logMAR BCVA improved from 0.36 ± 0.29 (Snellen equivalent 20/46; range: 0.1–1.2) at baseline to 0.15 ± 0.23 at 36 months (Snellen equivalent 20/28; range: 0.1–1.5; P P P  = .009) and the improvement in BCVA ( P P  = .036; odds ratio = 15.84, 95% confidence interval = 1.20–208.32). Eight eyes (5.9%) had complications related to PDT. Conclusions Chronic CSCR patients treated with half-dose PDT can achieve long-term stable visual acuity and resolution of SRD. Patients with chronic CSCR are recommended to undergo half-dose PDT before they have significant visual deterioration. Patients with bilateral CSCR are more likely to develop CSCR recurrence after half-dose PDT.