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

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

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

RESULTS: 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.

CONCLUSION: 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.