EURETINA 2025: Elon van Dijk on central serous chorioretinopathy

Elon van Dijk, an ophthalmologist from the Netherlands working at Leiden University Medical Center and Rotterdam Eye Hospital, delivered a comprehensive presentation on central serous chorioretinopathy (CSC). He discussed the evolving understanding of CSC's pathogenesis.

Previously considered solely a choroidal disease, recent research revealed more complex mechanisms. Advances in retinal imaging, particularly OCT and OCT-A scans, exposed changes in choroidal outflow and scleral outlet problems that contributed to the disease's development. The presentation highlighted the expanding differential diagnosis of CSC. He emphasized the importance of recognizing new diagnostic categories, as they significantly impacted treatment strategies and patient prognosis. He noted that the diagnostic landscape continued to broaden annually.

A key focus was the evidence-based treatment guidelines for CSC, which distinguished between acute and chronic forms. Half-dose photodynamic therapy (PDT) emerged as the primary treatment for both conditions, demonstrating effective short-term and long-term outcomes. Additionally, van Dijk strongly advocated for PDT reimbursement across different countries. He compared PDT's cost-effectiveness to repeated anti-VEGF injections, pointing out that PDT typically cost only a few thousand euros and potentially eliminated the need for future treatments. In contrast, anti-VEGF treatments required frequent, expensive injections every 4-8 weeks.

The ophthalmologist encouraged medical professionals to engage with local societies and government organizations to pursue PDT reimbursement. He offered personal assistance in navigating these complex bureaucratic processes and stressed that collective action through professional societies was more likely to succeed than individual efforts. The presentation underscored the importance of continuous medical research, technological advancements in imaging, and collaborative approaches to improving treatment protocols and healthcare accessibility for patients with CSC. The key takeaway was the need for ophthalmologists to stay informed about emerging research, advocate for cost-effective treatments, and work collaboratively to improve patient care.