The long-term outcome of central serous chorioretinopathy.
OBJECTIVE
To assess the long-term outcome of central serous chorioretinopathy (CSR) among a group of patients who previously participated in a prospective argon laser photocoagulation study of CSR.


METHODS
Thirty-eight of 41 surviving patients with CSR participating in an earlier study were invited to participate in a follow-up study that included history taking, ophthalmoscopy, biomicroscopy, and fundus photography.


RESULTS
Thirty-seven (38 eyes) of 38 surviving patients (97%) were available for follow-up between 11 and 15 years after participation in the earlier study. There were no clinically documented or historical recurrences of CSR among the six eyes previously treated by direct laser photocoagulation. There were 13 clinically documented recurrences and four historical recurrences among the 32 eyes not treated with direct laser photocoagulation. The difference in recurrences was statistically significant (P = .02). Pigment changes indistinguishable from age-related macular degeneration frequently occurred in eyes with CSR. The difference in the development of such pigment changes between eyes with CSR (33 of 38) and nonaffected fellow eyes (12 of 35) was significant (P = .001).


CONCLUSIONS
The decreased rate of CSR recurrence after direct laser photocoagulation reported in an earlier study was sustained with follow-up beyond 10 years. Pigmentary changes in the fundus indistinguishable from those associated with age-related macular degeneration developed in eyes affected with CSR, probably as a consequence of the presence of subretinal fluid accompanying the CSR rather than from early age-related macular degeneration.
Yap
E Y
EY
Department of Ophthalmology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minn, USA.
Robertson
D M
DM
D015862:Choroid Diseases / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery*; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D005654:Fundus Oculi; D006801:Humans; D017075:Laser Coagulation; D008268:Macular Degeneration / Q000209:etiology; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012008:Recurrence; D012164:Retinal Diseases / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery*; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014792:Visual Acuity