Visual outcomes and anatomic changes after sub-threshold micropulse yellow laser (577-nm) treatment for chronic central serous chorioretinopathy: long-term follow-up.

PurposeTo analyze the long-term efficacy of 577 nm sub-threshold micropulse yellow laser (SMYL) in the treatment of chronic central serous chorioretinopathy (CCSC) and to evaluate the anatomic outcome, visual results and safety profile of the treatment.Patients and methodsThis prospective study assessed 39 eyes of 39 patients with non-resolving CCSC lasting more than three months. All eyes were treated by using 577 nm SMYL system with 5% duty cycle (DC) and each patients was monitored monthly. The main outcome measures were best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA), contrast sensitivity (CS) and subretinal fluid (SRF) height, central macular thickness (CMT), central macular volume (CMV), total macular volume (TMV), and subfoveal choroidal thickness (SFCT) measured by spectral domain optical coherence tomography (SD-OCT).ResultsThe median follow-up time period was 17.82±0.42 (13-23 months) months. The BCVA was improved significantly at final follow-up in comparison of baseline visit (P<0.01) in 35 eyes (89.7%) and in 4 eyes (10.3%) was stable. The median CMT, CMV, TMV before treatment was 369 μm, 0.30 mm3, and 9.86 mm3, in comparison to 250 μm, 0.19 mm3, and 8.76 mm3 at final follow-up, respectively (P<0.01 for all these parameters). Initial median SFCT was recorded as 364 μm and 342 μm at the final follow-up (P<0.001).DiscussionResults suggest that SMYL treatment is an effective method as response was rapid and procedure is safe to manage the non-resolving CCSC eyes.