Multifocal electroretinography-assisted anatomical and functional evaluation of subthreshold green laser in acute central serous chorioretinopathy

Central serous chorioretinopathy: An evidence-based treatment guideline

Central serous chorioretinopathy (CSC) is a relatively common disease that causes vision loss due to macular subretinal fluid leakage and it is often associated with reduced vision-related quality of life. In CSC, the leakage of subretinal fluid through defects in the retinal pigment epithelial layer's outer blood-retina barrier appears to occur secondary to choroidal abnormalities and dysfunction. The treatment of CSC is currently the subject of controversy, although recent data obtained from several large randomized controlled trials provide a wealth of new information that can be used to establish a treatment algorithm. Here, we provide a comprehensive overview of our current understanding regarding the pathogenesis of CSC, current therapeutic strategies, and an evidence-based treatment guideline for CSC. In acute CSC, treatment can often be deferred for up to 3-4 months after diagnosis; however, early treatment with either half-dose or half-fluence photodynamic therapy (PDT) with the photosensitive dye verteporfin may be beneficial in selected cases. In chronic CSC, half-dose or half-fluence PDT, which targets the abnormal choroid, should be considered the preferred treatment. If PDT is unavailable, chronic CSC with focal, non-central leakage on angiography may be treated using conventional laser photocoagulation. CSC with concurrent macular neovascularization should be treated with half-dose/half-fluence PDT and/or intravitreal injections of an anti-vascular endothelial growth factor compound. Given the current shortage of verteporfin and the paucity of evidence supporting the efficacy of other treatment options, future studies-ideally, well-designed randomized controlled trials-are needed in order to evaluate new treatment options for CSC.

Pigment epithelial detachment composition indices in central serous chorioretinopathy as a biomarker for disease activity: A computational methodology and 1 year outcomes

PURPOSE

Investigation of pigment epithelial detachment (PED) characteristics in central serous chorioretinopathy (CSCR) is underrepresented in the literature. We present a novel computational approach to quantify PED composition indices (PEDCI) in CSCR and track changes over time.

METHODS

34 eyes with active CSCR were analyzed quarterly over a 1-year period. Cases were categorized into acute and chronic CSCR depending on a symptom duration of less than 3 months or more than 3 months respectively. PED, retinal and choroidal dimensions were manually measured, and interval changes were compared using repeated measures of variance ANOVA. PED composition analysis involved manual segmentation followed by automated sub segmentation of PED areas to identify serous, neovascular and fibrous tissues. PEDCI for each component was compared among cases of acute and chronic CSCR.

RESULTS

CMT and NSD-h decreased by 65.2 µm (p = 0.01), and 86.5 µm (p < 0.01) respectively at 12 months. At baseline, 7/17 acute CSCR eyes and 8/15 chronic CSCR eyes had a concomitant PED; acute cases had both serous and neovascular components (PEDCI-S: 16.95%, PEDCI-N: 40.3%), whereas chronic cases only had a neovascular component (PEDCI-S: 0%, PEDCI-N: 30.5%). At 12-month follow-up, 6/7 of acute CSCR group and 6/8 chronic CSCR group had a concomitant PED; PEDCI-S was largest for acute CSCR (53.4%) and PEDCI-N was largest for chronic CSCR (46.7%).

CONCLUSION

We identify a novel biomarker PEDCI to differentiate acute and chronic CSCR with higher PEDCI-S in acute CSCR, and higher PEDCI-N in chronic CSCR.

Comparing treatment outcomes in randomized controlled trials of central serous chorioretinopathy

PURPOSE

To perform a qualitative analysis of outcomes published from randomized controlled trials (RCTs) on central serous chorioretinopathy (CSCR) from 1979 to 2022.

DESIGN

Systematic review.

METHODS

All RCTs (including both therapeutic and non-therapeutic interventions) on CSCR available online till July 2022 were included after an electronic search in multiple databases such as PubMed, CENTRAL, MEDLINE, EMBASE, BIOSIS, Scopus, and Cochrane database. We analyzed and compared the inclusion criteria, imaging modalities, study endpoints, duration, and the results of the study.

RESULTS

The literature search yielded 498 potential publications. After excluding duplicate studies and studies that met clear exclusion criteria, 64 were screened for further evaluation, of which 7 were removed due to a lack of necessary inclusion criteria. A total of 57 eligible studies are described in this review.

CONCLUSION

This review provides a comparative overview of key outcomes reported between RCTs investigating CSCR. We describe the current landscape of treatment modalities for CSCR and note the discrepancies between results in these published studies. Challenges arise when attempting to compare similar study designs without comparable outcome measures (i.e., clinical vs. structural) which may limit the overall evidence presented. To mitigate this issue, we present the collected data from each study in tables detailing the measures that are and are not assessed in each publication.

Functional Outcomes and Safety Profile of Trans-Foveal Subthreshold Micropulse Laser in Persistent Central Serous Chorioretinopathy

Our study evaluated visual function changes after subthreshold micropulse laser (SML) treatment in persistent central serous chorioretinopathy (CSC) and SML safety profile. We conducted a prospective study including 31 fovea-involving CSC patients. The natural course was observed for the first 3 months, SML was performed at 3 months, and SML effectiveness was observed at 6 months. At all three clinical visits, optical coherence tomography (OCT), best corrected visual acuity (BCVA), contrast sensitivity (CS) in five spatial frequencies (1.5, 3.0, 6.0, 12.0, and 18.0 cycles per degree (cpd)), microperimetry (MP), and multifocal electroretinography (mfERG) were performed. The SML safety profile was evaluated with functional and morphological parameters. In the cohort of all CSC patients treated with SML, the statistically significant average improvement was observed in BCVA (p = 0.007), CS-1.5 (p = 0.020), CS-3.0 (p = 0.050), CS-12.0 (p < 0.001), CS-18.0 (p = 0.002), CS (CS-A) (p < 0.001), MP in the central ring (MP-C) (p = 0.020), peripheral ring (MP-P) (p = 0.042), and average retinal sensitivity (MP-A) (p = 0.010). After the SML treatment, mean changes in mfERG amplitudes and implicit times in our cohort were not statistically significant. No morphological or functional adverse effects of SML treatment were observed. SML treatment in persistent CSC episodes leads to significant functional improvement and has an excellent safety profile.

Multifocal Electroretinography Changes over 12 Months after Resolution of Central Serous Chorioretinopathy: Prospective Observational Study

INTRODUCTION

This prospective observational study aimed to evaluate the changes in retinal function after the anatomical resolution of central serous chorioretinopathy by multifocal electroretinography.

METHODS

Thirty-two eyes of 32 patients with unilaterally resolved central serous chorioretinopathy were prospectively studied. Serial multifocal electroretinography examinations were performed at the initial visit for active central serous chorioretinopathy, the time of anatomical resolution (resolved central serous chorioretinopathy), and 3, 6, and 12 months after resolution. The peak amplitudes of the first kernel responses were analysed and compared with those in 27 age-matched normal controls.

RESULTS

Compared with controls, the N1 amplitudes of rings 1-4 and P1 amplitudes of rings 1-3 showed statistically significant reductions at 12 months after the resolution of central serous chorioretinopathy (p < 0.05). The multifocal electroretinography amplitude substantially increased at the time of resolution and gradually improved until 3 months after the resolution of central serous chorioretinopathy.

CONCLUSION

Serial examinations with multifocal electroretinography showed that retinal responses increased mostly after the resolution of central serous chorioretinopathy, and this improvement slowly progressed until 3 months; however, the multifocal electroretinography amplitudes remained statistically reduced 12 months after the anatomical resolution of central serous chorioretinopathy, indicating the residual functional deficits detected by multifocal electroretinography.

Electrophysiological and anatomical outcomes of subthreshold micropulse laser therapy in chronic central serous chorioretinopathy

BACKGROUND

To evaluate short-term efficacy of subthreshold micropulse laser therapy on chronic central serous chorioretinopathy (CSC) electrophysiologically and anatomically.

METHODS

This prospective study included 18 eyes with chronic CSC. Subthreshold micropulse laser therapy was applied to the eyes using Endpoint Management System (EpM). The efficacy of the treatment was evaluated with optical coherence tomography (OCT) and multifocal electroretinography (mfERG) measurements before and after one month of the treatment.

RESULTS

The mean patient age was 47.3 ± 5.7 years (ranged between 36 and 56). The mean symptomatic time of the disease was 12.7 ± 3.33 months. Central macular thickness, choroidal thickness, subretinal fluid height and width showed statistically significant decreases after EpM treatment (p < 0.05). P 1 amplitude of ring 1, 3, 4, and 5 in mfERG increased significantly (p <  0.05).

CONCLUSIONS

The study demonstrated that, in both OCT and electrophysiological evaluations, EpM subthreshold laser therapy resulted in anatomical and functional improvements in chronic CSC.