Comparison of Multifocal Electroretinogram Assessments in Chronic Central Serous Chorioretinopathy Patients Undergoing Laser Treatment or Photodynamic Therapy

Abstract

Purpose: : To investigate multifocal electroretinogram (mfERG) assessment in chronic central serous chorioretinopathy (CSC) patients undergoing either focal laser photocoagulation or photodynamic therapy (PDT)

Methods: : Twenty patients (20 eyes) with symptomatic chronic CSC underwent focal laser photocoagulation or PDT as appropriate. Ten eyes exhibiting focal extrafoveal leakage on fluorescein angiography (FA) underwent focal photocoagulation, while ten eyes exhibiting subfoveal or juxtafoveal focal leakage on FA, or retinal pigmentary epithelium detachment involving the foveal center, underwent half-dose PDT. Best corrected visual acuity, optical coference tomography and multifocal electroretinography (mfERG) recordings were performed before treatment and at 1 month, and 3 months after treatment.

Results: : All 20 eyes achieved CSC resolution on three months after treatment. Visual acuity(logMAR) improved from 0.17±0.15 at baseline to 0.07± 0.11, 0.02± 0.04 at one, three months after treatment without significantly difference between the two groups(P=0.822, 0.355, respectively) The baseline P1, N1 amplitude and latency were not different between the two groups (P >0.05). However, the P1 latencies in the first annuli of the focal laser group were delayed compared to those in the PDT group at one month after treatment (40.17±5.52 msec and 35.11±2.43 msec, respectively) (P=0.047). The P1 amplitudes in the first annuli of two groups the focal laser group were slightly decreased compared to those in the PDT group at one month after treatment (29.7 ±7.9 nV/deg² and 36.1 ±13.4 nV/deg², respectively) (P=0.081). The N1, P1 amplitude and latency were continuously improved at three months without significantly difference between the two groups(P >0.05).

Conclusions: : Macular function revealed by mfERG in the focal laser group was more impaired in one month after treatment, compared to PDT. However, there is no difference in mfERG response between the focal laser group and the PDT group at three months after treatment. Half-dose PDT could be superior to improvement on the central retinal function in the early period after treatment compared to the focal laser.

Clinical Trial: : www.clinicaltrials.gov NCT00803517

Keywords: electroretinography: clinical • macula/fovea • retina