Introduction: Central serous chorioretinopathy (CSCR) as a clinical entity is potentially damaging and may significantly affect retinal morphology and function, especially in the chronic form. Our study aimed to determine the amount of deficit of best corrected visual acuity (BCVA) and individual retinal layers, including ganglion cells, in different types of CSCR and with reference to its duration.
Methods: The retrospective analysis included 69 eyes of patients with resolved CSCR managed in Dobry Wzrok Ophthalmological Clinic between 1 January 2019 and 30 June 2022. The diagnosis of CSCR was based on the criteria outlined by the Central Serous Chorioretinopathy International Group. The analysis included data obtained from medical history, BCVA testing, and spectral domain optical coherence tomography (SD-OCT) measurements, with specific thickness values for individual retinal layers. The results were compared among affected eyes, unaffected fellow eyes, and healthy controls.
Results: BCVA values were significantly lower in acute (0.08 ± 0.12 logMAR) and chronic (0.26 ± 0.19 logMAR) cases versus controls (0.0 logMAR). The thickness of all retinal layers (central subfoveal thickness, CST; inner retina with ganglion cell complex, GC; outer retina, ORT; and photoreceptor outer segments, POS) and macular volume (MV) were significantly decreased in chronic eyes versus controls (p < 0.01). Acute eyes had significant thinning of the outer retina and POS only compared to control eyes (p < 0.01). The amount of deficit in CST, ORT, GC, and MV was strongly correlated with poorer BCVA (p < 0.001), and the deficit of CST, ORT, and GC was correlated with disease duration (p < 0.05). The subfoveal choroidal thickness was significantly greater in affected and fellow eyes versus controls (p < 0.001).
Conclusion: Damage to the outer retina and photoreceptors occurs early in the course of CSCR, with a deficit in ganglion cells noted adjunctively in chronic forms of the disease. Further studies are required to precisely determine correlation between visual loss in CSCR and deficits in individual retinal layers.
Keywords: Central serous chorioretinopathy; Ganglion cell layer; Outer retinal thickness; Photoreceptor outer segments; Spectral domain optical coherence tomography.
Central serous chorioretinopathy (CSCR) is a common condition typically affecting young and middle-aged individuals. In its chronic form, it can lead to changes in retinal morphology and significant visual impairment. This disorder occurs basically in two forms: acute and chronic, depending on its duration. The study aimed to determine the amount of morphological and functional deficit occurring in the course of acute and chronic CSCR and refer it to healthy controls. The analysis of 69 resolved cases of CSCR was performed, including results of visual acuity testing and spectral domain coherence tomography (SD-OCT) measurements. Visual acuity was significantly lower in both acute and chronic groups compared to healthy control eyes, with greater deficit in the chronic group. Analysis revealed also a significant thinning of the retina in the chronic group versus control group. Chronic group demonstrated substantial loss of ganglion cells, which was not noted in acute form of the disease. Acute eyes demonstrated only a partial deficit in the outer retina, with the ganglion cell layer remaining intact. The amount of deficit of all retinal layers was strongly correlated with poorer visual acuity and disease duration.
© 2022. The Author(s).