Half-dose photodynamic therapy for chronic central serous chorioretinopathy evaluated by focal macular electroretinograms

Purpose: To evaluate the effect of half-dose verteporfin photodynamic therapy (hPDT) on the physiology of the macula determined by focal macular electroretinograms (FMERGs) in eyes with chronic central serous chorioretinopathy (CSC). Methods: Fourteen eyes of 13 patients with chronic CSC were treated with hPDT. The best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) was measured, and optical coherence tomography (OCT) and FMERGs were performed at the baseline, and at 4 days, 1, 3, 6, and 12 months after the hPDT. Results: The subreitnal fluid was resolved in 12 of the 14 eyes after the hPDT. The amplitude of the a-wave at 12 months was significantly increased by 1.28 times over that at the baseline. The amplitude of the b-wave was also increased but not significantly (P = 0.055). The implicit time of the a-wave was significantly reduced at 6 months, and that of the b-wave at 3 months. The amplitudes of the oscillatory potentials did not change significantly during the 12-month follow-up period. Conclusions: hPDT led to an improvement in the FMERGs for at least 12 months without a transient depression of the FMERGs in eyes with chronic CSC. hPDT can be used safely to treat eyes with CSC.