Decrease in choroidal blood flow after half and one-third dose verteporfin photodynamic therapy for chronic central...

Area of Science:

• Ophthalmology
• Medical Imaging
• Photodynamic Therapy

Background:

• Chronic central serous chorioretinopathy (CSC) affects choroidal blood flow, but the impact of reduced-dose verteporfin photodynamic therapy (PDT) is not well understood.
• This study investigates the effects of half-dose PDT (1/2PDT) and one-third dose PDT (1/3PDT) on choroidal blood flow in chronic CSC.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the efficacy of reduced doses of verteporfin PDT in treating chronic CSC.
• To assess the impact of 1/2PDT and 1/3PDT on choroidal blood flow using laser speckle flowgraphy and spectral-domain optical coherence tomography.

Main Methods:

• Twenty-seven eyes with chronic CSC (duration > 6 months) were divided into 1/2PDT (n=12) and 1/3PDT (n=15) groups.
• Evaluated best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA), central retinal thickness (CRT), central choroidal thickness (CCT), and macular/optic nerve head blood flow (m-MBR, ONH-MBR) at baseline and follow-up points up to 6 months.

Main Results:

• Serous retinal detachment (SRD) resolved in over 90% of eyes by 1 month in both groups, with low recurrence rates.
• 1/2PDT demonstrated a significant decrease in m-MBR for up to 6 months and CCT for up to 6 months.
• 1/3PDT showed a significant decrease in m-MBR only at 2 weeks and CCT for up to 3 months.

Conclusions:

• Verteporfin PDT significantly influences choroidal blood flow in chronic CSC, with the dose being a critical factor.
• Half-dose PDT appears to offer more sustained improvements in macular blood flow and choroidal thickness compared to one-third dose PDT.