Central Serous Chorioretinopathy

Central serous chorioretinopathy (CSC), also known as central serous retinopathy (CSR) is an eye disorder characterized by a sudden onset of blurred or distorted vision, usually in only one eye, that is accompanied by a blind spot in the center of the visual field. Other symptoms include reduced night vision, reduced contrast sensitivity and impaired ability to distinguish between colors. This is caused by a leakage in the central macula which allows fluid to invade the subretinal tissues; however the reason for these leaks is highly disputed.

Although causation has not been proven, CSC has been correlated with certain medical and psychological traits including:

• Past corticosteroid treatment
• Past incidence of Cushing's syndrome/disease
• High blood pressure
• Asthma
• Nasal allergies
• Better than average vision
• High stress life /profession
• Type-A personality (demanding, meticulous, detailed)

Some of these examples may have evolved due to the relatively under-diagnosed nature of this disease; many individuals with glasses who acquire the condition simply assume they need a new prescription and never contact an experienced retinal specialist. Additionally, people who have high visual demand jobs, most notably airline pilots (who also happen to be quite stressed) may simply be more sensitive to changes in their visual acuity than the general population and thus are more often diagnosed.

In most cases, treatment for CSC is not required; the condition improves on its own over a period of four to six months. However, patients must still be monitored in case complications develop, such as persistent subpar night vision and color discrimination. In these cases, treatments such as laser photocoagulation, transpupillary thermotherapy, and antibiotics may be prescribed by your doctor depending on the circumstances.