To quantify the development and resolution of serous retinal detachment in patients with choroidal neovascularization (CNV) following photodynamic therapy (PDT).

Six eyes of five patients who developed serous retinal detachment two days after PDT were included in this study. Retinal thickness was measured by optical coherence tomography (OCT) before PDT, and at two days, seven days, and three weeks after PDT. The number of PDT and the greatest linear dimension (GLD) of the CNV lesion were recorded.

Serous retinal detachment was demonstrated on OCT at two days after PDT. Retinal elevation increased significantly from 313.2 µm before PDT to 640.7 µm two days after PDT (P<0.01); elevation and decreased to 303.2 µm seven days after PDT, and decreased to 223.4 µm three weeks after PDT. The mean number of PDT treatments 2.0 (range: 1~3), and the mean GLD before PDT was 3122.8±1275.9 µm.

This study suggest that serous retinal detachment in patients with CNV may develop following PDT but may also resolve spontaneously seven days after PDT.