An interventional study of 577 nm Subthreshold Micropulse Laser in Central Serous Retinopathy (CSR) and Sub-Threshold Laser, sponsored by Benha University. Completed at 1 site in Egypt. Open to participants aged 18 Years and older. Per ClinicalTrials.gov, last updated 2026-10-22.
Sponsored by Benha University · Not applicable, Interventional, and Treatment
The goal of this clinical trial is to learn if subthreshold micropulse laser is a safe, effective, and painless treatment for multifocal and recurrent central serous chorioretinopathy (CSCR) in adults.
The main questions it aims to answer are:
Participants will:
Background:
Central serous chorioretinopathy (CSCR) is a common retinal disease characterized by serous detachment of the neurosensory retina, associated with choroidal hyperpermeability and retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) dysfunction. While acute CSCR often resolves spontaneously, multifocal and recurrent forms are associated with persistent subretinal fluid, progressive RPE damage, photoreceptor loss, and permanent visual impairment. Conventional thermal laser photocoagulation may cause pain, retinal scarring, scotoma, and choroidal neovascularization, while photodynamic therapy (PDT) is limited by cost, verteporfin availability, and potential choroidal ischemia. Subthreshold micropulse laser delivers energy in short repetitive pulses that stimulate the RPE without causing thermal damage or pain, making it a promising alternative for multifocal and recurrent CSCR.
Objective:
To evaluate the efficacy and safety of 577 nm subthreshold micropulse laser as a painless alternative treatment for multifocal and recurrent CSCR.
Study Design:
This is a prospective, single-arm interventional study conducted at the Ophthalmology Department, Faculty of Medicine, Al-Azhar University, Cairo, Egypt. The study was approved by the Research Ethics Committee of the Faculty of Medicine, Al-Azhar University (Approval No. Ophth._40/2024). Written informed consent will be obtained from all participants.
Participants:
40 eyes of patients diagnosed with multifocal or recurrent CSCR with persistent subretinal fluid, confirmed by clinical examination, spectral-domain OCT, and fluorescein angiography.
Intervention:
All eyes will receive 577 nm yellow subthreshold micropulse laser using a 5% duty cycle, 200 ms exposure duration, and 160 µm spot size, applied in a confluent pattern over the area of leakage and subretinal fluid identified on fluorescein angiography and OCT. Power will be titrated individually to a subthreshold level with no visible retinal burn. Treatment will be repeated at 3 months if subretinal fluid persists.
Assessments:
At baseline and at each follow-up visit (1, 3, and 6 months), patients will undergo:
Outcomes:
The primary outcome is the change in central macular thickness and subretinal fluid height on OCT at 3 months. Secondary outcomes include change in BCVA, rate of complete subretinal fluid resolution, recurrence rate at 6 months, pain score during treatment, and treatment-related complications.
Statistical Analysis:
Data will be analyzed using SPSS version 26. Quantitative data will be presented as mean ± SD and compared using the paired t-test or Wilcoxon signed-rank test as appropriate. Categorical data will be presented as numbers and percentages. A p-value \< 0.05 will be considered statistically significant.
87 studies on the registry are indexed under Central Serous Chorioretinopathy; 13 are open to participants now.
This study's enrollment of 40 is above the median of 30 across 63 interventional studies indexed under Central Serous Chorioretinopathy.
Browse Central Serous Chorioretinopathy studies →Benha University is the lead sponsor of 358 studies on the registry; 66 are open to participants now.
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Exclusion Criteria:
Patients with multifocal or recurrent central serous chorioretinopathy will receive 577 nm yellow subthreshold micropulse laser applied in a confluent pattern over the area of leakage and subretinal fluid. Treatment will be repeated at 3 months if subretinal fluid persists.
Device: 577 nm Subthreshold Micropulse Laser
577 nm yellow subthreshold micropulse laser delivered with a 5% duty cycle, 200 ms exposure duration, and 160 µm spot size, applied confluently over the area of leakage identified on fluorescein angiography and the area of subretinal fluid on OCT. Power is titrated individually to a subthreshold level producing no visible retinal burn. The procedure is painless and performed under topical anesthesia with a contact lens.
Change in Central Macular Thickness
Change in central macular thickness (in micrometers) measured by spectral-domain optical coherence tomography from baseline.
Time frame: Baseline, 1 and 3 months
Change in Subretinal Fluid Height
Change in maximum subretinal fluid height (in micrometers) measured by spectral-domain OCT from baseline.
Time frame: Baseline, 1, and 3 months
Ran from Jul 2024 to primary completion in Apr 2026, 21 months.
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From the registry record's own update history. This site started tracking changes on Sep 25, 2026; for anything earlier, see the record history on ClinicalTrials.gov ↗
This study is completed, as verified in Oct 2026. You cannot join it, but the record below documents what was studied.
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Central Serous Chorioretinopathy →