Time-periodic characteristics in the morphology of idiopathic central serous chorioretinopathy evaluated by volume scan using spectral-domain optical coherence tomography

Purpose: To investigate the time-period characteristics associated with morphologic changes in idiopathic central serous chorioretinopathy (CSC) using volume scans acquired by spectral-domain optical coherence tomography (SD-OCT).

Design: Retrospective, observational, cross-sectional case series.

Methods: Patients underwent visual acuity measurements, fundus examinations, fluorescein angiography, indocyanine green angiography, and SD-OCT volume scans. Patients were classified into 5 categories-acute CSC, early chronic (EC) CSC, late chronic (LC) CSC, sequelae of CSC, or recurrent CSC-according to the chronicity and the recurrence. We investigated the relationship between our classification and the detailed morphologic changes of the retinal pigment epithelium and outer retina that were observed in the SD-OCT images.

Results: A total of 76 eyes from 75 patients were included in this study. Serous retinal detachment was relatively higher in acute CSC. Low to flat pigment epithelial detachments (PEDs) were most commonly observed in all stages of CSC, especially in LC CSC, but some semicircular PEDs were occasionally observed in eyes with acute or EC CSC. Retinal dragging with fibrin was most frequently observed in eyes that were in the early stage of acute CSC. A thickened posterior surface of the detached retina was most commonly observed in eyes with acute CSC, whereas a thinned posterior surface of the detached retina was observed in eyes with LC CSC. Hyperreflective dots and subretinal exudates were more commonly observed in eyes with EC and LC CSC than in eyes with acute CSC. In eyes with recurrent CSC, 2 different patterns of SD-OCT findings were observed; these patterns resembled those that were found in either acute CSC or LC CSC.

Conclusions: SD-OCT finding patterns in CSC eyes differ according to the chronicity and the recurrence of the disease. Detailed investigation of the retinal pigment epithelium and outer retina using SD-OCT could be useful for estimating the duration of CSC.