Purpose: To quantify transient serous retinal detachment in classic and occult choroidal neovascularization (CNV) after photodynamic therapy (PDT).
Design: Prospective consecutive case series.
Methods: Consecutive patients with classic and occult CNV were examined by optical coherence tomography before PDT and at 2 and 7 days after PDT.
Results: In classic CNV (n = 6), retinal elevations increased from 217 (SD 42) microm before PDT to 626 (SD 157) microm 2 days after PDT and decreased to 240 (SD 36) microm 7 days after treatment. In occult CNV (n = 4), the mean retinal elevation of 266 (SD 41) microm before PDT increased to 544 (SD 94) microm 2 days after PDT and decreased to 259 (SD 40) microm 7 days after treatment.
Conclusion: Cross-sectional optical coherence tomography imaging revealed transient subretinal fluid accumulation in classic as well as in occult CNV after PDT. The subretinal location possibly relates to an outer blood-retinal barrier breakdown after PDT.