Anatomic and visual acuity outcomes following thermal laser photocoagulation or photodynamic therapy for symptomatic circumscribed choroidal hemangioma with associated serous retinal detachment

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: This study reports and compares the anatomic and visual acuity outcomes of patients treated with either thermal laser photocoagulation or photodynamic therapy for circumscribed choroidal hemangioma with associated serous retinal detachment. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Retrospective, consecutive, interventional case series of patients treated for symptomatic circumscribed choroidal hemangioma. RESULTS: Thirteen of 23 patients (57%) treated with thermal laser photocoagulation exhibited complete resolution of subretinal fluid, 6 (26%) had partial resolution of subretinal fluid, and 4 (17%) had persistent subretinal fluid despite therapy. At 3 months posttreatment, visual acuity was improved in 6 (26%), stable in 13 (57%), and worsened in 4 (17%) of 23 patients. All 5 patients who underwent hpotodynamic therapy had complete resolution of subretinal fluid. At 3 months posttreatment, visual acuity improved in 4 (80%), remained stable in 1 (20%), and worsened in 0 (0%) patients. CONCLUSIONS: Photodynamic therapy shows similar if not better anatomic and visual acuity results than thermal laser photocoagulation when treating symptomatic circumscribed choroidal hemangioma.