Fluorescein angiographic features of asymptomatic eyes in central serous chorioretinopathy.

PURPOSE

Analysis of the fundus and fluorescein angiography (FA) features of the asymptomatic eyes in patients of central serous chorioretinopathy (CSC) at initial visit and estimation of the overall magnitude of bilateral pathology.

METHODS

Retrospective observational case series that reviewed the medical records and FA features of 229 consecutive patients between January 1999 and December 2001.

RESULTS

Seventy-three (31.88%) patients had symptoms in one eye but signs in both the eyes, of which 70 were selected. Bilateral symptomatic CSC was seen in 29 (12.66%). Thus, overall bilateral involvement was found in 102 (44.54%) patients. FA features of asymptomatic eyes were pigment epithelial detachment (32.85%), fluorescein leak (31.42%), window defect (31.42%), depigmented patches (14.29%), drusen-like deposits (12.85%), pigment clumps (4.29%), retinal pigment epithelial atrophy (4.28%), subretinal precipitate (2.85%), and sensory retinal detachment (5.71%). Forty-three (61.43%) had evidence of chronic subclinical CSC, whereas 27(38.57%) had features of clinically healed CSC. CSC developed in the asymptomatic eyes within 3 to 12 months in four of the 24 followed-up patients.

CONCLUSION

Considerable number of asymptomatic eyes had features suggestive of healed or chronic subclinical CSC. These eyes are at risk for CSC caused by occurrence of active leak(s) from the same or new site(s).