Visual function during and after an acute central serous chorioretinopathy episode.

Abstract

To evaluate visual function parameters during and after an acute central serous chorioretinopathy (CSC) episode. A prospective study included 19 fovea involving acute CSC patients with episode resolution within 3months from the episode onset. Optical coherence tomography, best corrected visual acuity (BCVA), contrast sensitivity (CS), microperimetry (MP), and multifocal electroretinography (mfERG) were performed at baseline, 3 and 6months from the episode onset. In a sub analysis, patients were divided into groups with greater (gMV, N = 9) and lower (lMV, N = 10) macular volume at presentation, and functional outcomes were observed. BCVA (p < 0.001), average CS (CS-A) (p < 0.001), average retinal sensitivity (MP-A) (p < 0.001), mfERG amplitude densities in the first and second ring (mfERG-A1, p < 0.001; mfERG-A2, p = 0.017), and implicit times in the first, second, and third ring (mfERG-IT1, p = 0.024; mfERG-IT2, p = 0.002; mfERG-IT3, p = 0.018) improved with episode resolution 3months after the episode onset. From 3 to 6months after the episode onset, only CS-A (p = 0.045) continued to improve. Patients in thegMV group had lower mfERG-A1 (p = 0.017) and central retinal sensitivity (MP-C, p = 0.05) 6months from the episode onset. Although all functional parameters mostly improve with CSC episode resolution, only CS continues to improve thereafter. Patients with greater MV at presentation have worse functional outcomes. Visual function impairment in acute CSC patients is confined to the topographical area of subretinal fluid detachment.