AIM: To compare the efficacy and safety of 577nm subthreshold micropulse laser(SML)and photodynamic therapy(PDT)in patients with chronic central serous chorioretinopathy(cCSC).

METHODS: Thirty patients(30 eyes)with cCSC were treated in our hospital from February 2015 to April 2018. And 15 patients(15 eyes)were treated with SML(577 nm)while the others were treated by PDT. The BCVA and CMT as well as complications were observed at 1, 3, 6mo after treatment.

RESULTS: At 1mo after treatment, BCVA was increased to 0.37±0.13 in SML group and 0.20±0.11 in PDT group(t=-3.93, P<0.001); CMT was decreased to 382.80±76.54μm in SML group and 247.60±28.46μm in PDT group(t=-6.41, P<0.001). Although improvements of BCVA and CMT were both achieved in two groups, improvements in PDT group were better than those in SML group. At 3mo and 6mo after treatment, both BCVA and CMT were no significant difference between the two groups(P>0.05). During the follow-up period, there were no obvious complications or recurrence observed.

CONCLUSION: Both SML(577nm)and PDT were effective and safe in the treatment of cCSC, but the theraputic effects of PDT was slightly quicker than SML. Further, with the prolongation of recovery time, the curative effects of these treatments were similar. Additionally, SML(577nm)costs was much cheaper than PDT and had no risk of injury or allergy for patients, and patients with cCSC could also be treated repeatedly using it.