[Central serous chorioretinopathy--clinical aspects and course]

To investigate and to identify the clinical aspects and outcomes in military patients with central serous chorioretinopathy (CSC).

Prospective, comparative, observational case series study during 01.01.2004-31.12.2005 on two groups with central serous chorioretinopathy: group A (12 eyes) from military environment compared with group B (9 eyes) from civil patients. The evaluations were performed based on visual acuity, functional symptoms, fundus biomicroscopy, fluorescein angiography and optical coherence tomography. The relationship of CSC to the age, gender, psychosomatic symptoms, personality profiles, systemic associated diseases or risk factors and the rate of recurrence were evaluated. The statistical Anova multivariate analysis was performed.

There were no significant differences between the two groups regarding distribution to the age and gender. In the military patients, by use of a multivariate analysis steroid use, infection with Helicobacter pylori and type A behavior pattern were strongly associated with CSC. The mean duration of disease was significant prolonged in the group A as compared with group B (p=0,0012). In the military patients, there were 5 cases (41,66%) with recurrence and 1 case (11,11%) in the civil patients (p=0,0009). Laser photocoagulation was used in 3 cases (25%), respectively 1 case (11,11%) in the group B.

Although CSC usually resolves spontaneously, the associated diseases and risk factors, the clinical aspects and outcomes in military patients may be different, with residual visual deficits, despite recovering normal visual acuity.