Abstract
Purpose :
To evaluate the long term efficacy and safety of photodynamic therapy (PDT) with verteporfin for the treatment of chronic central serous chorioretinopathy (CRSC).
Methods :
This is a retrospective observational study. Charts of CRSC patients at two tertiary referral centres (Jules Gonin Eye Hospital, Lausanne, Switzerland, and University Eye Clinic, Torino, Italy) were reviewed. Patients with a history of at least 6 months of symptoms and 5 years of follow-up were included. Qualitative and quantitative analysis was performed on the following parameters: best corrected visual acuity (BCVA), number of treatments performed, retinal and choroidal thickness, integrity of the internal limiting membrane (ILM) and ellipsoid, presence of intraretinal and subretinal fluid (IRF and SRF), presence of RPE atrophy. These parameters were assessed at baseline (before treatment) and at regular intervals of 6, 12, 24/48, 60 months.
Results :
21 eyes from 15 patients were included, with a mean age of 60 years. Mean BCVA improved from 20/50 at baseline to 20/32 at 5 years follow-up with 2 treatments on average (range 1 - 4). In 75% and 95% of eyes the SRF and IRF was resolved at last visit.
Conclusions :
PDT with verteporfin is effective and safe for the treatment of chronic CRSC over a period of 5 years. Despite the limitations of this study, such as the small number of the sample, the retrospective nature, and the lack of analysis OCT angiography parameters, it is one of the very few studies that evaluates the long-term efficacy, beyond the two-year follow-up, of PDT with verteporfin in eyes affected by chronic CSC. Future studies with a larger sample may confirm the results of our study.
This abstract was presented at the 2023 ARVO Annual Meeting, held in New Orleans, LA, April 23-27, 2023.