Predictors of treatment response to intravitreal anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (anti-VEGF) therapy for choroidal neovascularisation secondary to chronic central serous chorioretinopathy

PurposeThe aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) therapy on choroidal neovascularisation (CNV) complicating central serous chorioretinopathy (CSC) using multimodal imaging, and to identify possible predictive factors of the treatment response.DesignRetrospective study.MethodsData of 27 eyes with CNV complicating CSC treated with anti-VEGF therapy (either ranibizumab or aflibercept) were reviewed. Response to anti-VEGF treatment was evaluated by change in visual acuity, intra/subretinal fluid modifications and CNV changes on optical coherence tomography angiography (OCTA). Univariate and multivariate analyses were performed to identify predictive factors for central retinal thickness (CRT) change and for the relative degree of treatment response (complete, incomplete or absent fluid reduction).ResultsCRT was significantly reduced at 32±15 days after 2.8±1.3 injections (p=0.0004) as was the subretinal fluid (p=0002). Complete fluid resorption was observed in 45% of cases. Best corrected visual acuity did not significantly improve (p=0.18). CNV area (p=0.09) and CNV flow area (p=0.07) did not significantly decrease. No changes in CNV pattern were noted. Univariate analysis identified greater CRT at baseline (pConclusionThe anti-VEGF response was highly variable and often incomplete, suggesting that CNV was not solely responsible for the fluid accumulation. Predictive factors may guide indication for anti-VEGF in CNV associated with CSC.