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

To review the results of low-intensity/high-density subthreshold micropulse laser (SDM) for treatment of central serous chorioretinopathy.

The records of all patients treated in a retinal subspecialty practice with SDM for central serous chorioretinopathy were reviewed.

Eleven consecutive eyes of 11 patients treated between October 2011 and April 2014 were identified for study, 9 men and 2 women, aged 30 to 55 (mean = 46). Symptom duration before treatment ranged 1 month to 7 months (mean = 3.6 months) and after treatment with SDM laser, follow-up ranged 1 month to 45 months (mean = 14). Preoperative visual acuities ranged 20/20 to 20/100 (mean = 20/37) and postoperative visual acuities were 20/15 to 20/40 (mean = 20/24) (P = 0.01, paired t-test). Maximum retinal thickness ranged 314 μm to 893 μm (mean = 508) preoperatively and 222 μm to 365 μm (mean = 250) postoperatively for an average 258 μm reduction in retinal thickness (P = 0.002, paired t-test). Subretinal fluid was eliminated in all eyes by 3 months after treatment (mean = 1.3 months). The number of SDM laser spot applications ranged 295 to 1431 per treatment session (mean = 772). One eye required retreatment, but for a new leakage locus 4 months after initial treatment. There were no adverse treatment effects.

An SDM laser seems to be safe and effective for the treatment of central serous chorioretinopathy. As advocated in the literature, a higher treatment density and larger treatment area, as reported in this article, may improve clinical results.