Acetazolamide for central serous retinopathy.
OBJECTIVE
To find out whether acetazolamide has a beneficial effect in the treatment of central serous retinopathy (CSR).


METHODS
Prospective, nonrandomized, comparative trial.


METHODS
Fifteen acetazolamide-treated and 7 untreated (control) CSR patients who completed at least 24 months of follow-up.


METHODS
Patients in the treatment group were given systemic acetazolamide according to a standard protocol. Main outcome measures were compared between treatment and control groups using Student's t test and the Mann-Whitney U test for statistical analysis.


METHODS
Time until subjective visual improvement, time until full clinical resolution, and rate of recurrences.


RESULTS
Mean times to both subjective visual improvement and clinical resolution of the attack were shorter in the study group than in the control group. Recurrence rate did not differ between the study and control groups.


CONCLUSIONS
Acetazolamide treatment for CSR shortens the time for subjective and objective clinical resolution, but has no effect on either final visual acuity or recurrence rate of the disease.
Department of Ophthalmology, Hillel Yaffe Medical Center, Hadera, Israel.
Joseph
J
Pikkel
Itzchak
I
Beiran
Avinoam
A
Ophir
Benjamin
B
Miller
D000086:Acetazolamide / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000328:Adult; D002257:Carbonic Anhydrase Inhibitors / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005122:Exudates and Transudates; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012008:Recurrence; D012164:Retinal Diseases / Q000188:drug therapy*; D014792:Visual Acuity / Q000187:drug effects
D002257:Carbonic Anhydrase Inhibitors; D000086:Acetazolamide