Short-term effectiveness of intelligent navigated laser photocoagulation versus subthreshold micropulse laser in patients with chronic central serous chorioretinopathy

To compare the short-term effectiveness of intelligent navigated laser photocoagulation and 577-nm subthreshold micropulse laser (SML) treatment in patients with chronic central serous chorioretinopathy (cCSC).

This observational retrospective cohort study included 60 consecutive patients who underwent intelligent navigated laser photocoagulation (n=30) or 577-nm SML treatment (n=30) for cCSC between Jan. 2021 and Oct. 2022. During 3mo follow-up, all patients underwent assessments of best correct visual acuity (BCVA) and optical coherence tomography (OCT).

The operation of laser treatment was successful in all cases. At 1mo, BCVA improved significantly more in the intelligent navigated laser photocoagulation group compared to the SML group (P<0.05). The change was not significantly different at 3mo (P>0.05). Central macular thickness (CMT) in the intelligent navigated laser photocoagulation group was lower than in the SML group at 1mo (P<0.05). The subfoveal choroidal thickness (SFCT) in two groups were all significantly improved at 3mo (all P<0.05). The change between two groups was not significantly different at 1mo or at 3mo (P>0.05).

Intelligent navigated laser photocoagulation is superior to SML for treating cCSC, leading to better improvements in vision and CMT for short term.