Clinical characteristics of central serous chorioretinopathy in women

To describe the clinical features of central serous chorioretinopathy (CSC) in women and identify factors predictive of complete recovery, moderate visual loss, and prolonged duration.

Retrospective observational case series.

Eighty-four eyes in 78 women with CSC seen in our practices between 1982 and 1999.

Univariate and multivariate statistical analysis.

Analyses of three outcome parameters: complete recovery (recovery of visual acuity and complete symptom resolution), moderate visual acuity loss (final acuity less than 20/40), and duration of symptoms greater than 5 months.

Sixty-two percent (52 of 84) achieved complete recovery over a median of 5 months (range, 2-108 months) and 88% (74 of 84) had a final vision of 20/40 or better. Patients with subretinal precipitates (P = 0.001), single occurrence (P = 0.002), absence of hormone replacement therapy (HRT) (P = 0.01), duration less than 5 months (P = 0.02), or absence of a pigment epithelial detachment (PED) (P = 0.05) were more likely to recover completely. Recurrence (P = 0.03) and lack of subretinal precipitates (P = 0.03) were associated with a final vision less than 20/40. Age older than 50 (P = 0.004) and the presence of a PED (P = 0.02) were associated with duration longer than 5 months.

In women, CSC associated with subretinal precipitates, shorter duration, single occurrence, lack of HRT use, and absence of PED is more likely to resolve completely. CSC occurring in women older than 50 or associated with PED formation is more likely to take longer to resolve.