Factors related to changes in visual symptoms after successful photodynamic therapy in central serous chorioretinopathy

To investigate biomarkers related to visual symptom and best corrected visual acuity (BCVA) improvement after photodynamic therapy (PDT) for central serous chorioretinopathy. This retrospective cross-sectional study involved 42 consecutive eyes, from 42 patients who underwent successful PDT, divided into two groups according to improvement in subjective visual complaints: complete (20 eyes) and incomplete recovery (22 eyes). The clinical characteristics of each group, including central foveal thickness (CFT), foveal avascular zone (FAZ) area, and degree of change in signal voiding of the choriocapillaris on optical coherence tomography angiography, were compared. Correlations between best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) and baseline clinical features were investigated. At baseline, CFT and FAZ areas showed significant differences between the two groups (all p < 0.05). Multiple binary logistic regression analysis revealed that greater CFT predicted complete recovery from visual complaints (p = 0.002). Reduction or disappearance of signal voiding in the choriocapillaris 6 months post-PDT occurred more frequently in the complete recovery group (p < 0.05). FAZ area before PDT correlated with BCVA before and 6 months after PDT and BCVA improvement during the study period (all p < 0.05). CFT and FAZ area before PDT correlated with completeness of visual symptom recovery after PDT. Smaller FAZ area before PDT correlated with better BCVA before and after treatment.

Automated summary

This retrospective cross-sectional study aimed to investigate biomarkers associated with visual symptoms and best corrected visual acuity (BCVA) improvement after photodynamic therapy (PDT) for central serous chorioretinopathy. Forty-two consecutive eyes from 42 patients who underwent successful PDT were divided into complete (20 eyes) and incomplete recovery groups (22 eyes) based on improvement in subjective visual complaints. Clinical characteristics, such as central foveal thickness (CFT), foveal avascular zone (FAZ) area, and changes in signal voiding of the choriocapillaris, were compared between the two groups. The study found that CFT and FAZ areas at baseline were significantly different between the groups. Logistic regression analysis showed that greater CFT predicted complete recovery from visual complaints. Reduction or disappearance of signal voiding in the choriocapillaris was more frequent in the complete recovery group. The study also revealed correlations between FAZ area before PDT and BCVA before and after treatment, as well as BCVA improvement during the study period.