AUTHOR=Zhou Lijun , Lai Kunbei , Jin Ling , Huang Chuangxin , Xu Fabao , Gong Yajun , Li Longhui , Zhu Zhe , Lu Lin , Jin Chenjin 

TITLE=Subthreshold Micropulse Laser vs. Conventional Laser for Central Serous Chorioretinopathy: A Randomized Controlled Clinical Trial

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Medicine

VOLUME=8

YEAR=2021

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/medicine/articles/10.3389/fmed.2021.682264

DOI=10.3389/fmed.2021.682264

ISSN=2296-858X

ABSTRACT=<p><bold>Purpose:</bold> To investigate the effectiveness and safety of 577-nm subthreshold micropulse laser (SML) on acute central serous chorioretinopathy (CSC).</p><p><bold>Methods:</bold> One hundred and ten patients with acute CSC were randomized to receive SML or 577-nm conventional laser (CL) treatment. Optical coherence tomography and best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) were performed before and after treatment.</p><p><bold>Results:</bold> At 3 months, the complete resolution of subretinal fluid (SRF) in 577-nm SML group (72.7%) was lower than that in CL group (89.1%) (Unadjusted RR, 0.82; <italic>P</italic> = 0.029), but it was 85.5 vs. 92.7% at 6 months (unadjusted RR, 0.92; <italic>P</italic> = 0.221). The mean LogMAR BCVA significantly improved, and the mean central foveal thickness (CFT) significantly decreased in the SML group and CL group (all <italic>P</italic> &lt; 0.001) at 6 months. But there was no statistical difference between the two groups (all <italic>P</italic> &gt; 0.05). In the SML group, obvious retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) damage was shown only in 3.64% at 1 month but 92.7% in the CL group (<italic>P</italic> &lt; 0.001).</p><p><bold>Conclusions:</bold> Although 577-nm SML has a lower complete absorption of SRF compared with 577-nm CL for acute CSC at 3 months, it is similarly effective as 577-nm CL on improving retinal anatomy and function at 6 months. Importantly, 577-nm SML causes less damage to the retina.</p>