Comparison of the outcomes of photodynamic therapy for central serous chorioretinopathy with or without subfoveal fibrin

Background To compare the outcomes of half-dose verteporfin photodynamic therapy (vPDT) for central serous chorioretinopathy (CSCR) with or without subfoveal fibrin. Methods One hundred seventy-three cases of CSCR treated with half-dose vPDT between September 2008 and February 2018 were retrospectively reviewed and classified into two groups: CSCR with subfoveal fibrin (fibrin group) and without subfoveal fibrin (no-fibrin group). The changes in best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) from baseline and in central macular thickness (CMT) were recorded at 1, 3, and 6 months after the treatment. Results Forty-eight eyes were included in the fibrin group and 125 eyes in the no fibrin group. There were no statistical differences in the baseline characteristics including age, gender, duration of symptoms, and CMT between the groups. The baseline mean BCVA of the fibrin group was significantly worse than that of the no fibrin group (0.47 ± 0.32 versus 0.32 ± 0.31 in logMAR; p = 0.003). There was no statistically significant difference between the two groups in the improvement of BCVA at each follow-up point (1 month: p = 0.069; 3 months: p = 0.111; 6 months: p = 0.172, respectively) and in the reduction of CMT (1 month: p = 0.367; 3 months: p = 0.767; 6 months: p = 0.496, respectively). In the fibrin group, the rates of complete resolution of the subretinal fibrin at 1, 3, and 6 months after vPDT were 72.9%, 95.8%, 95.8%, respectively. The SRF resolution rate at 1, 3, and 6 months was 72.9%, 89.6% and 91.7% respectively in the fibrin group and was 62.4%, 83.2% and 84.0% in the no fibrin group. There was no significant difference of SRF resolution rate between the two groups at 1 month ( p = 0.216), 3 months ( p = 0.350), and 6 months ( p = 0.228). No ocular adverse event was encountered in both groups. Conclusion Half-dose vPDT was effective and safe for CSCR patients with subfoveal fibrin.