Abstract

Background: Chronic central serous chorioretinopathy presents a treatment challenge. Photodynamic therapy has been used successfully but with side effects; thus, the authors explored half-dose and half-fluence photodynamic therapy as lower-risk alternatives.

Methods: Retrospective medical record review of patients with chronic or recurrent central serous chorioretinopathy who received half-dose or half-fluence photodynamic therapy from May 2008 through March 2011 at a tertiary care referral center in Portland, Oregon, USA. The authors recorded demographics, visual acuity, and change in central retinal thickness as measured by optical coherence tomography.

Results: Eight patients aged 46 to 80 years (11 eyes) were treated for central serous chorioretinopathy with half-dose or half-fluence photodynamic therapy, or with both of these treatment modalities on different occasions. Visual acuity before treatment ranged from 20/15 to 20/100; after treatment, visual acuity also ranged from 20/15 to 20/100. The authors noted no significant differences between half-dose and half-fluence photodynamic therapy and no serious treatment complications.

Conclusions: Half-dose and half fluence photodynamic therapy are safe and effective treatment alternatives for chronic central serous chorioretinopathy.

Keywords: Central serous chorioretinopathy, photochemotherapy, retina, retinal detachment, retinal pigment epithelium