Quantitative autofluorescence in central serous chorioretinopathy.

INTRODUCTION: Central serous chorioretinopathy (CSC) is associated with pachychoroid and dysfunctional RPE. Autofluorescence (AF) is typically altered. We performed this study to quantify these alterations using quantitative AF (qAF) in patients with CSC and in their fellow-eye in comparison with a healthy control group.

MATERIAL AND METHODS: Patients with CSC and healthy patients were recruited prospectively. All patients received a full clinical examination including best corrected visual acuity (BCVA), enhanced depth imaging-OCT and qAF. QAF images were taken with a confocal scanning laser ophthalmoscope (Heidelberg Engineering). QAF values were assessed in specified regions of the inner eight (IN8) and the middle ring (MID) of the Delori-grid.

RESULTS: 141 eyes of 77 patients with CSC were included. 90 eyes had a manifest CSC (group 1) while 51 fellow-eyes (group 2) did not show signs of CSC. There were no significant differences of qAF values between these two groups: mean qAF values were 241.3 (IN8) and 212.8 (MID) in group 1 and 235.9 (IN8) and 210.0 (MID) in group 2 (p=1.0 and 1.0). We compared these eyes to healthy controls comprising 39 eyes. QAF signals (IN8: 164.7; MID:148.9) differed significantly compared to both CSC manifest (p<0.001) and fellow eyes (p<0.001).

CONCLUSIONS: Our results show that patients with CSC have increased qAF values in both eyes with manifest CSC and asymptomatic, clinically unremarkable fellow-eyes in comparison to healthy controls. This finding suggests that qAF alterations are present even before clinical signs can be observedand might therefore serve as an early biomarker.