Choroidal morphologic features in central serous chorioretinopathy using ultra-widefield optical coherence tomography

Purpose To analyze the choroidal morphological changes in central serous chorioretinopathy (CSC) using ultra-widefield (UWF)-optical coherence tomography (OCT). Methods This single-center, case-control study included 65 CSC eyes (52 males; age, 55.6 +/- 13.0 years) and 65 healthy eyes (50 males; age, 57.1 +/- 17.9 years). UWF-OCT (viewing angle, 200 degrees) with real-shape correction was used to create an automated choroidal thickness (CT) map. The CT map had three sub-areas: the central (0-30 degrees), middle (30-60 degrees), and peripheral areas (60-100 degrees), and was divided by vertical and horizontal lines. Differences in the CT and the CT change rate (CTCR) from the central to peripheral areas were examined between the CSC and control groups after adjusting for subjects' demographic and clinical factors. Furthermore, we assessed the vortex veins dilation patterns (VVDP) in the macula and examined the CT and the CTCR differences between CSC patients and controls for each VVDP. Results CSC patients had greater CT than those of the controls in all sectors (CSC vs. controls, the peripheral area: supratemporal 284.4 +/- 71.2 mu m vs. 220.4 +/- 71.2 mu m, infratemporal 263.3 +/- 69.2 mu m vs. 195.3 +/- 52.3 mu m, supranasal 251.9 +/- 70.3 mu m vs. 189.5 +/- 58.1 mu m, infranasal 193.6 +/- 71.2 mu m vs. 146.3 +/- 48.9 mu m, P < 0.0001 for all sectors). The CTCR was apparently larger in CSC eyes than controls only for the upper-dominant type of VVDP (CSC patients vs. controls, supratemporal 32.1 +/- 9.9% vs. 4.6 +/- 23.1%, infratemporal 44.0 +/- 11.2% vs. 25.6 +/- 16.8%, supranasal 42.6 +/- 9.8% vs. 22.2 +/- 19.4%, infranasal 57.6 +/- 41.2% vs. 41.2 +/- 13.9%, P < 0.0001 for all sectors). Conclusions CSC has a thicker choroid, even in the peripheral areas, and the macular choroidal thickening was more severe in the upper-dominant type of VVDP. VVDP may affect the location of excessive fluid.

Automated summary

This study used UWF-OCT to analyze the choroidal morphological changes in CSC patients and found that the choroid is thicker in CSC patients, even in the peripheral areas. The macular choroidal thickening is more severe in the upper-dominant type of VVDP.