Central serous chorioretinopathy: bilateral multifocal electroretinographic abnormalities.
OBJECTIVE
To assess retinal function topographically in the posterior pole of affected and fellow eyes with central serous chorioretinopathy.


METHODS
Multifocal electroretinograms (MERGs) were recorded from 6 patient with active central serous chorioretinopathy and 5 normal control subjects. Two patients also had full-field conventional ERGs. The MERG responses were averaged in rings radiating out from the foveal center.


RESULTS
All of the patients had central macular detachments in the affected eyes, while the fellow eyes were normal except for a few small retinal pigment epithelial abnormalities. The MERG was not only depressed in areas of detachment as expected, but was also reduced beyond the area of detachment in affected eyes and throughout the posterior pole of the fellow eyes. Full-field ERGs were normal.


CONCLUSIONS
The MERG findings show that there is broad retinal functional disturbance in central serous chorioretinopathy involving both eyes and areas beyond the zone of detachment. These data strongly suggest that diffuse and possibly systemic pathologic conditions underlie this disease and that the leak itself may be a somewhat incidental event. The MERG may prove useful as a clinical marker for susceptibility to serous detachment.
Department of Ophthalmology, Stanford University Medical Center, Calif 94305-5308, USA. marmor@stanford.edu
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D000328:Adult; D015862:Choroid Diseases / Q000150:complications / Q000503:physiopathology*; D004596:Electroretinography; D005122:Exudates and Transudates; D005260:Female; D005451:Fluorescein Angiography; D005654:Fundus Oculi; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012160:Retina / Q000503:physiopathology*; D012163:Retinal Detachment / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology; D012164:Retinal Diseases / Q000150:complications / Q000503:physiopathology*; D014792:Visual Acuity