Central serous chorioretinopathy: Professional repercussions among agents of the internal security forces.

PURPOSE

To describe the relationship between central serous chorioretinopathy (CSCR) and stress in addition to the transient and permanent professional repercussions of this condition among security forces agents.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

This is a retrospective, descriptive study of 22 CSCR patients. All patients were interviewed to establish their job status, a stressful triggering event, the number of consultations, absenteeism, the duration of episodes, the number of days off, exemption from certain activities and professional reclassification. All of our patients underwent a complete ophthalmological examination and ancillary testing (OCT optical coherence tomography, fluorescein retinal angiography) to establish the positive diagnosis and to determine the clinical form.

RESULTS

During their daily activity, all patients were armed and worked night security duty. They all reported a stressful event just before the onset of the disease. The average visual acuity was 4/10 P6 all forms combined; with a visual acuity between 1 and 2/10 for the chronic form. Visual impairment was associated with absenteeism (mean length of time off was 1.13 months per episode), exemptions from carrying arms or night duty in 36.36% of cases, with professional reclassification in 22.7% of patients.

CONCLUSION

CSCR affects psychology and alters the quality of life of patients who are generally young and professionally active. This can interfere with work performance and cause temporary or permanent disability.