Retinal function in patients with serpiginous choroiditis: a microperimetry study.
OBJECTIVE
To investigate fixation pattern and retinal sensitivity in patients with serpiginous choroiditis (SC).


METHODS
Twenty-eight eyes (14 patients) with SC were evaluated. Best-corrected visual acuity, color fundus photography, fundus autofluorescence, and fluorescein and indocyanine green angiography were performed. Microperimetry was used to assess fixation pattern and retinal sensitivity.


RESULTS
Of 28 eyes, 16 (57%) had central, one (4%) poor central, and 11 (39%) eccentric fixation; and 18 (64%) had stable, four (14%) relatively unstable, and six (21%) unstable fixation. In patients with posterior pole symmetrically involved in both eyes, the better eye had stable and central fixation in all cases. Atrophic lesions were characterized by a dense scotoma in all cases, with a relative scotoma at their margins in ten eyes (38%). In two cases of active disease, a dense scotoma correlated to an active lesion could be detected. A relative scotoma was documented in areas not involved by the disease at the posterior pole in eight eyes (28%), and in the peripapillary area in 11 eyes (39%).


CONCLUSIONS
Quantification of retinal sensitivity and fixation pattern by microperimetry offers new data about the impact of visual impairment in patients with SC. A reduction of retinal sensitivity in an apparently healthy area suggests a wider functional involvement of the retina, undetectable by morphologic evaluation alone.
Pilotto
Elisabetta
E
Department of Ophthalmology, University of Padova, via Giustiniani 2, Padua, Italy. elisabetta.pilotto@unipd.it
Vujosevic
Stela
S
Grgic
Vuga Ana
VA
Sportiello
Patrik
P
Convento
Enrica
E
Secchi
Antonio Giovanni
AG
Midena
Edoardo
E
D002833:Choroiditis / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000503:physiopathology*; D004396:Coloring Agents; D005403:Fixation, Ocular / Q000502:physiology; D005451:Fluorescein Angiography; D006801:Humans; D007208:Indocyanine Green; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012160:Retina / Q000503:physiopathology*; D012607:Scotoma / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000503:physiopathology; D014792:Visual Acuity / Q000502:physiology; D058609:Visual Field Tests
D004396:Coloring Agents; D007208:Indocyanine Green
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