Local macular electroretinographic responses in idiopathic central serous chorioretinopathy

Using focal stimuli to human macular regions, we recorded electroretinograms in 24 patients with central serous chorioretinopathy of recent onset (mean visual acuity, 20/20). The stimulus spot was 10 degrees in diameter. Intact fellow eyes served as controls. The local macular electroretinograms of the affected eyes were significantly reduced and the implicit time in each component was significantly prolonged. The mean (+/- S.D.) amplitudes, expressed as percentages of mean amplitudes recorded in fellow eyes, were 64.6% +/- 22.7% (a-wave), 49.6% +/- 21.0% (b-wave), and 15.0% +/- 21.6% (oscillatory potentials). Two to five months after the macular detachment resolved, recordings in 18 patients showed remarkable recovery of a- and b-waves and shortened implicit times. However, the oscillatory potentials showed significantly small recovery in amplitude. Since oscillatory potentials and b-waves were significantly more deteriorated than a-waves in the presence of macular detachment, and oscillatory potentials showed selective delay of recovery in the convalescent stage, central serous chorioretinopathy may involve functional disturbances in the inner retinal layer as well as the photoreceptors.