The natural history of pigment epithelial detachment associated with central serous chorioretinopathy.
OBJECTIVE
To determine the visual outcome of retinal pigment epithelial detachment (PED) associated with central serous chorioretinopathy (CSC), to further characterize the natural history of these lesions, and to provide a review of previous reports.


METHODS
Data for 340 consecutive patients with a diagnosis of CSC from January 2001 through December 2004 were retrospectively reviewed. Patients with CSC combined with angiographic evidence of PED were included in the study.


METHODS
Age, sex, use of corticosteroid medications, presenting visual acuity, and final visual acuity were recorded. Lesion characteristics including location, number of lesions, and laterality were recorded. Clinical outcome measures included resolution or persistence of the PED, progression to retinal pigmentary atrophy, or development of choroidal neovascularization. Fluorescein angiograms were obtained if available.


RESULTS
Thirty-four (9%) of 319 patients with angiographic evidence of CSC were diagnosed with PED over a mean follow-up of 49 months (range, 12-165 months; median, 36 months). Mean age of the patients was 47 years (range, 32-69 years; median, 48 years), most of whom were males (68%). Mean initial visual acuity was 20/32 (range, 20/13 to 20/400; median, 20/30). PEDs were commonly unilateral (88%), unifocal (76%), and extrafoveal (82%). Overall mean final visual acuity was 20/25 (range, 20/13 to 20/250; median, 20/25) for all patients. Mean visual acuity for the group of patients with subfoveal PED (18%) was 20/50 (range, 20/25 to 20/250; median, 20/50). Complete resolution of the PED occurred in 65% of patients, with resultant mean visual acuity of 20/25 (range, 20/13 to 20/250; median, 20/25). In this group, localized retinal pigment epithelial atrophy developed in 86%, with mean final visual acuity of 20/25 (range, 20/13 to 20/250; median, 20/25). Persistent PED was observed in 35% of patients, resulting in mean visual acuity of 20/25. There were no cases of choroidal neovascularization.


CONCLUSIONS
CSC with associated retinal PED may be seen and generally has a good visual prognosis. The most frequent outcome is resolution with retinal pigment epithelial atrophy. Subfoveal PED occurs less commonly and may have a poorer visual prognosis.
California Pacific Medical Center, San Francisco, California, USA.
Sachin S
SS
Mudvari
Mitchell J
MJ
Goff
Arthur D
AD
Fu
H Richard
HR
McDonald
Robert N
RN
Johnson
Everett
E
Ai
J Michael
JM
Jumper
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D015862:Choroid Diseases / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy; D005122:Exudates and Transudates; D005260:Female; D005451:Fluorescein Angiography; D005938:Glucocorticoids / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010857:Pigment Epithelium of Eye / Q000473:pathology*; D012163:Retinal Detachment / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy; D012164:Retinal Diseases / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D044967:Serum; D014792:Visual Acuity
D005938:Glucocorticoids