To evaluate the clinical results of half-fluence photodynamic therapy (PDT) using verteporfin in patients with chronic central serous chorioretinopathy (CSC).

The author reviewed the charts of 20 patients (22 eyes) who underwent PDT for chronic central serous chorioretinopathy. All 22 eyes were treated using an irradiance of 300 mW over 83 second (25 J/cm²). Postoperative evaluation included improvements in visual acuity, complications, changes in central macular thickness with the optical coherence tomogram (OCT), and recurrence.

The best-corrected visual acuity improved significantly from 0.50±0.32 to 0.12±0.19 logMAR at 3 months ( p <0.01), and the mean central macular thickness decreased from 377.7±86.3 µm to 166.2±29.3 µm at 3 months ( p <0.01). Exudative serous macular detachments were resolved completely in all eyes within 3 months. There was no recurrence after PDT during the follow-up period.

PDT using half fluence appeared to be a beneficial treatment option for patients with chronic CSC. Further studies are needed to verify treatment safety as well as the time and rate of recurrences.