Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the incidence and recurrence of central serous chorioretinopathy in Greece: a multicenter study.

PURPOSE

To investigate the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the incidence and recurrence of central serous chorioretinopathy (CSCR) in Greece, analyzing data from 2017 to 2023.

METHODS

A retrospective, observational, cross-sectional study was conducted, including patients diagnosed with either new-onset or recurrent CSCR at five ophthalmology departments in Greece from January 2017 to December 2023. Data were categorized into "pre-COVID" (2017-2019) and "COVID" (2021-2023) periods, excluding cases from 2020 due to lockdown restrictions. Patient demographics, disease recurrence, and COVID-19 infection history were recorded. Statistical analyses included chi-square tests, Spearman's rank correlation, and Student's t-test.

RESULTS

A total of 730 CSCR cases were analyzed (435 new-onset, 295 recurrent). The participants' mean age was 46.8 ± 7.5 years. The overall number of cases significantly increased during the COVID-19 period (462 cases) compared to the pre-COVID period (268 cases) (p < 0.001). Both new-onset (164 vs. 271, p < 0.001) and recurrent cases (104 vs. 191, p < 0.001) showed a significant rise. Among patients from 2021 to 2023, those with a confirmed COVID-19 infection had significantly higher CSCR rates compared to non-infected individuals (p < 0.001).

CONCLUSION

The COVID-19 pandemic was associated with a significant increase in CSCR incidence and recurrence in Greece. This rise may be attributed to heightened psychological stress and endogenous cortisol elevation during the pandemic, as well as direct viral effects and corticosteroid use in infected patients. Further studies are needed to explore underlying mechanisms and long-term consequences.