Navigated laser photocoagulation in patients with non-resolving and chronic central serous chorioretinopathy

To evaluate the efficacy of navigated focal laser photocoagulation in patients with chronic central serous chorioretinopathy (CSCR) and active leakage on fluorescein angiography (FA).

Thirty-two eyes of 32 patients (age 48 ± 11, m/f = 24/8) with persistent or recurrent CSCR (> 3 months) who received navigated laser photocoagulation (Navilas®) of leaking point(s) between June 2013 and 2016 were included in this retrospective case series. Outcome parameters after 4 weeks and 3 months were the number of patients presenting with complete resolution of subretinal fluid, the volume of subretinal fluid measured on SD-OCT (Spectralis Heidelberg Engineering©), and best corrected visual acuity (BCVA/ (Snellen equivalent).

Complete resolution of subretinal fluid was achieved in 17 eyes (50%) after 4 weeks and in 24 eyes (75%) after 3 months with an average number of 1.3 laser procedures (range 1-3). Five eyes displayed a nearly complete resolution with a reduction of over 80% of the subretinal fluid compared to baseline. Three eyes showed no reduction in subretinal fluid. BCVA improved from median 0.58 (range 0.16-1.25) to 0.66 (0.16-1.0) (p = 0.001). The seven patients who had been treated within the central 1 mm of the ETDRS-OCT Grid but outside the avascular foveal zone showed an improvement of BCVA from median 0.6 (range 0.2-1.0) to 0.8 (0.2-1.0). No patient experienced a treatment-induced visual loss.

Laser treatment with Navilas® using eye tracking and FA-based planning is a safe and effective alternative therapy in patients with chronic CSCR.