Near-infrared and short-wavelength autofluorescence imaging in central serous chorioretinopathy

The aim of the study was to compare the results of short-wavelength (SW) and near-infrared (NIR) autofluorescence (AF) in acute central serous chorioretinopathy (CSC).

Twenty-six eyes of the 26 patients diagnosed with CSC (mean age 37.4 years) were included in this retrospective study. AF images were evaluated and compared with angiographic and ophthalmoscopic findings. Fluorescein angiography and AF imaging were performed using a confocal scanning laser ophthalmoscope.

Focally decreased AF at the leakage site was seen in most of the cases with acute CSC (20 of 26 eyes in SW-AF; 20 of 20 eyes in NIR-AF). Twenty-four of the 26 cases had decreased SW-AF corresponding to the area of the serous retinal detachment, while 19 of the available 20 cases had decreased NIR-AF corresponding to the area of the serous retinal detachment. Increased granular AF corresponding to the extent of the former retinal detachment was seen earlier with SW-AF imaging, but disappeared later in the course of disease with NIR-AF imaging.

AF imaging in CSC demonstrates different patterns according to the course of the disease, reflecting RPE and outer retinal changes. Combining two different methods of AF imaging could predict recent or former CSC episodes and may be a non-invasive technique for monitoring CSC and performing differential diagnosis.