Topical fundus pulsation measurement in patients with active central serous chorioretinopathy.
OBJECTIVE
To determine regional pulsatile choroidal blood flow using laser interferometry in patients with active central serous chorioretinopathy (CSC).


METHODS
The study compared an equally sized age-, sex-, and refractive error-matched control group of healthy volunteers obtained from the Department of Clinical Pharmacology with 18 consecutive patients who had newly diagnosed active, unilateral CSC obtained from the University of Vienna Eye Clinic, Vienna, Austria.


METHODS
Regional fundus pulsation amplitude as assessed using laser interferometry.


RESULTS
The median age of the patients was 40 years; the male-female ratio was 16:2. Foveal fundus pulsation amplitude was significantly higher in eyes with CSC (mean [SD], 5.5 [1.7] micro m) than in the eyes of the control subjects (4.1 [1.1] micro m; P =.005). In addition, eyes with CSC had a significantly higher variability in fundus pulsation amplitude (mean [SD], 48% [20%]) assessed at different fundus locations around the leak than the controls did (20% [9%]; P<.001).


CONCLUSIONS
To our knowledge, this is the first study that measures topical fundus pulsations in patients who have active, unilateral CSC. These data indicate a generally increased foveal pulsatile choroidal blood flow and an abnormal distribution of fundus pulsation amplitude in the area close to the leak. Whether these findings reinforce the concept that choroidal perfusion abnormalities play a role in the pathogenesis of CSC remains to be established.
Tittl
Michael
M
Department of Ophthalmology and Optometry, University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria.
Polska
Elzbieta
E
Kircher
Karl
K
Kruger
Andreas
A
Maar
Noemi
N
Stur
Michael
M
Schmetterer
Leopold
L
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001783:Blood Flow Velocity; D001794:Blood Pressure; D002829:Choroid / Q000098:blood supply*; D015862:Choroid Diseases / Q000503:physiopathology*; D005260:Female; D005654:Fundus Oculi; D006339:Heart Rate; D006801:Humans; D007368:Interferometry; D007834:Lasers; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011673:Pulsatile Flow / Q000502:physiology*; D012039:Regional Blood Flow / Q000502:physiology; D012164:Retinal Diseases / Q000503:physiopathology*