Retinal vessels functionality in eyes with central serous chorioretinopathy

Br J Ophthalmol. 2018 Feb;102(2):210-214. doi: 10.1136/bjophthalmol-2017-310398. Epub 2017 Jun 9.

Abstract

Purpose: To analyse static characteristics and dynamic functionality of retinal vessels in eyes with central serous chorioretinopathy (CSCR) by means of Dynamic Vessel Analyzer (DVA).

Methods: Patients presenting with treatment-naïve CSCR and normal subjects (controls) matched for age and sex between May 2015 and November 2015 were enrolled in the study. Participants underwent a complete ophthalmological examination, including dynamic and static retinal vessels analysis by DVA.

Results: A total of 28 eyes of 28 subjects (14 eyes for each group) were included in the analysis. Dynamic analysis during stimulation by flickering light showed mean venous dilation of 3.3%±2.0% in patients with CSCR and 5.5%±2.6% in controls (p=0.0258); mean arterial dilation did not differ between patients and controls (3.2%±2.5% and 4.2%±1.5%, p=0.2). No differences were reported at static retinal analysis between patients with CSCR and control subjects. Subfoveal choroidal thickness as evaluated by optical coherence tomography was 438.6±86.1 µm in CSCR eyes, significantly increased compared with control subjects (301.5±72.5 µm, p=0.0001).

Conclusions: Dynamic analysis revealed a reduced retinal venous dilation in response to flicker light stimulation in CSCR eyes. The decreased retinal vein response to flicker light stimulation, possibly due to increased sympathetic tone and potentially leading to venous stasis, together with the increased choroidal thickness may help understand CSCR and give insights in its pathogenesis.

Keywords: Central serous chorioretinopathy; choroidal thickness; dynamic vessel analyzer; optical coherence tomography; static vessel analysis, retinal vessel analysis.

Publication types

  • Observational Study

MeSH terms

  • Central Serous Chorioretinopathy / diagnosis
  • Central Serous Chorioretinopathy / physiopathology*
  • Female
  • Fluorescein Angiography
  • Fundus Oculi
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Microscopy, Acoustic
  • Middle Aged
  • Retinal Vessels / diagnostic imaging
  • Retinal Vessels / physiopathology*
  • Retrospective Studies
  • Tomography, Optical Coherence
  • Vasodilation / physiology*