Assessment of central serous chorioretinopathy by optical coherence tomography and multifocal electroretinography

To evaluate central serous chorioretinopathy (CSCR) by means of optical coherence tomography (OCT) and multifocal electroretinogram (mf-ERG) at presentation and after resolution of the acute phase.

Prospective comparative observational case series with a normal sample.

Twenty-one eyes of 21 patients with unilateral CSCR were examined. Both eyes underwent complete ophthalmological examination, which included measurement of best-corrected visual acuity, fluorescein angiography, OCT and mf-ERG recording. Our results were compared with the corresponding findings of 33 normal volunteers of the same age.

At presentation, the averaged mean retinal thickness of the fovea, measured by OCT, was 303 mum in the affected eyes, 69.3% higher compared to the normal controls (p < 0.001). The averaged mean retinal response density of the mf-ERG of the affected eyes in area 1 was 11.29 nV/degree(2), 50.8% lower compared to the normal controls (p < 0.001). After regression of CSCR, the averaged mean retinal thickness of the fovea was 213 microm in the affected eyes, 19.3% greater compared to the normal controls (p < 0.001). The averaged mean retinal response density of the mf-ERG of the affected eyes in area 1 was 16.05 nV/degree(2), 30.1% lower compared to normal controls (p < 0.001). It is interesting that 6 of 21 fellow nonaffected eyes showed abnormal values, with an averaged mean retinal thickness of OCT (246 mum) and an averaged mean retinal response density of mf-ERG in area 1 (12 microV/degree(2)). In the remaining 15 eyes, the OCT and the mf-ERG values were within normal limits.