Evaluation of the choroidal vascularity index after subthreshold yellow laser treatment in the patients with chronic central serous chorioretinopathy

Abstract

Purpose To assess the choroidal vascularity index (CVI) after subthreshold laser treatment in patients with central serous chorioretinopathy (CSC). Method A total of 32 eyes with CSC were included in this study. In group 1, 14 eyes with persistent CSC were treated with the PASCAL (Endpoint Management Software) at 577-nm wavelength and in group 2, 18 eyes without treatment. The luminal area (LA), stromal area (SA), total area of choroid (TA), and CVI were measured by binarization (ImageJ) of optical coherence tomography images. Changes of choroidal structure parameters were evaluated over 3 months. Result A significant decrease was observed in LA, TA, and CVI at the third month after the laser treatment (p = 0.018, p = 0.024, p = 0.046). The best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) and choriocapillaris plexus (CCP) flow area values were increased after treatment in group 1 (p < 0.001, p = 0.002). The final subfoveal fluid height, and CVI were lower in group 1 (p = 0.003, p = 0.011). The visual acuity and CCP flow area were higher in group 1 at the third month (p < 0.001, p = 0.003). A positive correlation between the final BCVA and CVI was observed (r = 0.539, p = 0.01). Discussion Decreased CVI was observed in CSC eyes after subthreshold yellow laser treatment. The CVI may be a useful index to evaluate the response to treatment. In this study, the increased visual acuity and decreased subretinal fluid and choroidal vascularity index (CVI) were observed in patients with central serous chorioretinopathy after subthreshold yellow laser treatment. CVI may be useful in the follow-up of patients with CSR, particularly in the quantitative assessment of treatment response.