Abnormal choroidal flow on optical coherence tomography angiography in central serous chorioretinopathy

Abstract

IMPORTANCE: Analysing choroidal flow in central serous chorioretinopathy (CSC) with novel device. BACKGROUND: To examine the abnormal morphology of choriocapillary flow with optical coherence tomography angiography (OCTA) according to the presence of subretinal fluid (SRF) in CSC. DESIGN: A hospital-based retrospective study. PARTICIPANTS: We analysed OCTA results of 68 eyes (68 patients) diagnosed as CSC with or without SRF (active and resolved CSC, respectively) at the Asan Medical Center. METHODS: We classified OCTA choriocapillary images into three pattern groups: mixed perfusion, hyper-perfusion and normal perfusion. Data analysis included age, follow-up duration, treatment modalities, number of treatments, subfoveal choroidal thickness and SRF height. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: The relationship between CSC activity and choriocapillary pattern. RESULTS: Abnormal choroidal flow (mixed and hyper-perfusion) was more frequently found in eyes with active CSC (100%) than resolved CSC (47.5%, P < 0.001). In active CSC eyes, mixed perfusion was predominant (71.4%), while hyper-perfusion was predominant in those with resolved CSC (73.7%). Eyes with recently resolved CSC (SRF absorption present for <2 months) had abnormal choriocapillary flow more often than the remaining eyes with resolved CSC (83.3% vs 32.1%, P = 0.005). Resolved CSC eyes with abnormal choriocapillary flow demonstrated more recurrence than eyes with normal choriocapillary flow (42.1% vs 9.5%, P = 0.017). CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE: The pattern of choriocapillary flow abnormalities on OCTA can indicate CSC disease activity. Because eyes with resolved CSC showing abnormal choroidal flow have a high recurrence rate, they should be carefully followed-up.