LOW-INTENSITY/HIGH-DENSITY SUBTHRESHOLD MICROPULSE DIODE LASER FOR CHRONIC CENTRAL SEROUS CHORIORETINOPATHY

Purpose: To evaluate the visual outcomes and macular thickness change in patients with symptomatic chronic central serous chorioretinopathy after treatment with a subthreshold MicroPulse diode laser. Methods: In this retrospective, interventional case series, 10 patients were treated with the subthreshold 810-nm diode MicroPulse laser. Selected patients had symptomatic disease that may or may not have involved the foveal center. The MicroPulse laser was applied to the areas of leakage seen on fluorescein angiogram, over the areas of clinical neurosensory detachment, and/or pigment epithelial detachments. Pretreatment and posttreatment vision, change in maximum macular thickness, number of treatment sessions, and number of laser spot applications were recorded. Patients were excluded if they did not attend follow-up, had other confounding macular diseases, were using steroid medications, or application of another treatment modality had been used (i.e., photodynamic therapy or anti-vascular endothelial growth factor medication). Results: Ten patients met the inclusion criteria, with 1 patient treated in both eyes. Three patients were excluded for lack of follow-up, one for the use of systemic steroids, and one for treatment with anti-vascular endothelial growth factor injection. Maximum macular thickness decreased after subthreshold MicroPulse laser treatment between 20 mu m and 338 mu m (mean = 97 mu m decrease, P = 0.0046) in 11 treated eyes. Conclusion: Subthreshold diode MicroPulse laser is a potential treatment option for patients with symptomatic chronic central serous chorioretinopathy.