Non-damaging retinal laser therapy in chronic central serous chorioretinopathy.

PURPOSE:To investigate the functional and anatomical outcomes of non-damaging retinal laser therapy (NRT), in cases with chronic central serous chorioretinopathy (CSCR). METHODS:Twenty-three eyes of 23 treatment-naïve chronic CSCR patients were included in this study. The irradiation of 577 nm yellow light was conducted on the serous detachment area after switching over to the NRT algorithm. Anatomical and functional changes after treatments were investigated. RESULTS:The mean age of the subjects was 48.68 ± 5.93 years (41-61). The mean best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) and the mean central macular thickness (CMT) values were 0.42 ± 0.12logMAR (0.20-0.70) and 315.69 ± 61.25 µm (223-444) before NRT; and 0.28 ± 0.11logMAR (0.10-0.50) and 223.26 ± 60.91 µm (134-336) at the 2nd month follow-up visit (p < 0.001, for both). At the 2nd-month follow-up visit after NRT, complete resorption of subretinal fluid was observed in 18 eyes (78.3%) and incomplete resorption in five eyes (21.7%). Worse values of BCVA and CMT before NRT were found as increased risk for incomplete resorption (p = 0.002 and ρ = 0.612 for BCVA, and p < 0.001 and ρ = 0.715 for CMT). CONCLUSION:Significant functional and anatomical improvements can be observed in the early period after NRT in patients with chronic CSCR. Patients having worse baseline BCVA and CMT have increased risk for incomplete resorption.