Photodynainic therapy with verteporfin in subfoveal choroidal neovascularization secondary to central serous chorioretinopathy

Objective: To examine the efficacy and safety of photodynamic therapy with verteporfin in the treatment of subfoveal choroidal neovascularization secondary to central serous chorioretinopathy (CSC). Design: Prospective interventional, noncomparative case series. Methods: After the diagnosis of a subfoveal choroidal neovascularization secondary to CSC, 26 eyes of 24 patients were treated with photodynamic therapy with verteporfin. Patients were then followed up every 2 to 3 months, with further treatments performed as deemed necessary through fluorescein angiography. The mean observation was 22.2 months (range, 6-36 months; median, 24 months). Results: There was marked visual improvement, with patients gaining a mean of 1.6 lines after I year and a mean of 2.2 lines after 2 years. There was a statistically significant change in visual acuity from baseline to 12 and 24 months (mean difference, -0.16, P=.03; and mean difference, -0.22, P=.02; respectively; t test for both). There was no correlation between patients' age or greatest linear dimension of the lesions and the final outcome (P>.10 for all). No patient experienced any adverse effects. Conclusion: Photodynamic therapy with verteporfin resulted in a beneficial outcome in the treatment of subfoveal choroidal neovascularization secondary to CSC, without serious adverse effects in this case series.