Choroidal thickness measurements during central serous chorioretinopathy treatment

Abstract

To determine changes in choroidal thickness in patients with central serous chorioretinopathy (CSCR) during the first 3 months after initial diagnosis and assess variable therapeutic interventions via enhanced depth imaging spectral-domain optical coherence tomography (EDI-OCT). In this prospective study, choroidal thickness was measured via EDI-OCT both in the affected and fellow eyes of 10 patients with CSCR at the fovea, as well as at 500 and 1,000 μm both temporal and nasal from the centre of the fovea and at the leakage point (if present), visualised via fluorescein angiography. Follow-up measurements were performed after 2–3 weeks, 6–8 weeks and 3 months. Seven of the 10 patients received additional systemic therapy with oral acetazolamide. A control group of eight healthy subjects was recruited to determine normal choroidal thickness in healthy eyes. The mean age of the 10 patients (9 male, 1 female) in the CSCR group was 42.1 (±9.3) years. The choroid in the affected eyes was significantly thickened at baseline compared to fellow eyes and the eyes of healthy subjects. The choroid in the fellow eyes also revealed a slight thickening at baseline compared to normal eyes. During the 3 month follow-up period, the choroidal thickness of the affected eyes showed a highly significant decrease, but did not reach normal levels. Minor changes could also be observed in the fellow eyes but did not reach statistical significance. In patients with CSCR, the average choroidal thickness not only demonstrated a significant thickening at baseline, but also showed a marked decrease after 3 months, yet not reaching normal levels. Our data indicate that after 3 months, normalisation of choroidal thickness is not yet completed.