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Purpose: The purpose of this study was to investigate the presence of sex-steroid receptors in human choroidal tissue across different ages and sex, aiming to better understand the pronounced sex difference in central serous chorioretinopathy (CSC) occurrence., Methods: Paraffin-embedded enucleated eyes of 14 premenopausal women, 15 postmenopausal women, 10 young men (<45 years), and 10 older men (>60 years) were used. A clinically certified immunostaining was performed to detect the presence of the androgen receptor (AR), progesterone receptor (PR; isoform A and B), and estrogen receptor (ERα). The stained slides were scored in a blinded manner for positive endothelial cells and stromal cells in consecutive sections of the same choroidal region., Results: Our analysis revealed the presence of AR, PR, and ERα in endothelial cells and stromal cells of choroidal tissue. The mean proportion of AR-positive endothelial cells was higher in young men (46% ± 0.15) compared to aged-matched women (29% ± 0.12; P < 0.05, 95% confidence interval [CI]). Premenopausal women showed markedly lower mean proportion of ERα (5% ± 0.02) and PR-positive endothelial cells (2% ± 0.01) compared to postmenopausal women (15% ± 0.07 and 19% ± 0.13; both P < 0.05, 95% CI), young men (13% ± 0.04 and 21% ± 0.10; both P < 0.05, 95% CI), and older men (18% ± 0.09 and 27% ± 0.14; both P < 0.05, 95% CI). Mean PR-positive stromal cells were also less present in premenopausal women (12% ± 0.07) than in other groups., Conclusions: The number of sex-steroid receptors in the choroidal tissue differs between men and women across different ages, which aligns with the prevalence patterns of CSC in men and postmenopausal women.

Purpose: To investigate the occurrence of chorioretinopathy post-COVID-19, emphasizing demographic characteristics, medication history, clinical presentation, diagnostic evaluation, and treatment approaches, with a specific focus on the role of corticosteroid use., Methods: Our protocol was registered prospectively on PROSPERO (CRD42023457712). A systematic search of databases (PubMed, Cochrane, WOS, Scopus) from November 2020 to August 2023 were performed to identify any original research reporting chorioretinopathy in COVID-19 patients. Data extraction included patient demographics, COVID-19 timeline, medication history, symptoms, diagnostic tests, and treatment outcomes. We used Joanna Briggs Institute (JBI) critical appraisal tool to assess the quality of our included studies., Results: We identified seven case reports and two case series including 10 patients, six females and four males (mean age 36.5 years), who exhibited chorioretinopathy after COVID-19. Onset varied from 6 days to three months post-infection (average = 24.3 days). Seven patients (70%) had a history of corticosteroid use during COVID-19 treatment. Symptoms included visual loss, blurred vision, and deterioration. Diagnostic assessments revealed central serous chorioretinopathy in seven patients (70%) and punctate inner choroidopathy in two (20%). Treatment approaches varied, with corticosteroid discontinuation leading to symptom improvement, while two patients were treated with corticosteroids. Five patients who discontinued corticosteroids were reported to have improvement in visual acuity, two of them changed to 20/25 after being 20/40, two changed to 6/6, and one changed to 20/20, while the visual acuity in the sixth patient was not reported. Regarding the two patients who were treated with corticosteroids, visual acuity was reported in one case only and it improved to 20/20., Conclusion: This systematic review states the prevalence and potential association between chorioretinopathy, and corticosteroid use in the context of COVID-19. This relation is still unclear because of the relief of symptoms in some cases after corticosteroid discontinuation, while two other cases were treated with corticosteroids and their symptoms improved.

Background and Objectives : This study aims to investigate the potential association between the COVID-19 pandemic and a new presentation of central serous chorioretinopathy (CSCR). Materials and Methods : A retrospective analysis was conducted, comparing the incidence of new-onset CSCR cases among ophthalmology patients in a regional medical facility in southern Israel between two distinct periods: the COVID-19 pandemic era in Israel, which occurred from 27 February 2020 to 20 December 2020, and the non-pandemic period from calendar years 2018 to 2021, excluding the specific epidemic phase mentioned. Disease severity was evaluated based on recovery time, visual acuity loss, and central macular thickness via OCT. Results : Over the four-year period, 35 new cases of CSCR were recorded. During the COVID-19 pandemic, 17 new cases (0.005% per population) were identified, compared with 18 new cases (0.002% per population) in the preceding three years. The odds ratio for acute CSCR during the pandemic was 2.83 (95% CI, 1.46-5.50) with a p -value of 0.02. CSCR cases during the pandemic seemed to exhibit worse clinical characteristics, though not statistically significant. Additionally, 22.2% of the COVID-19 pandemic group had confirmed COVID-19 cases, which was statistically significantly higher than the general population's reported cases (6%). Conclusion : The study revealed a statistically significant increase of over 2.5 times in acute CSCR incidence during the COVID-19 pandemic compared with non-pandemic periods. The findings suggest that the pandemic's stressful changes may have unintended consequences on the occurrence of CSCR, highlighting the importance of mental health support and psychoeducation for affected patients.

Purpose: Central serous chorioretinopathy (CSCR) a relatively common cause of visual impairment, which is characterized by subretinal fluid accumulation in the macula and is more common in middle-aged males. Various risk factors have been reported in literature, among which substantial role of psychological factors is cited. Our aim was to look for the prevalence and association of the psychiatric factors in CSCR patients and to compare them with other non-chorioretinal ocular pathologies., Methods: A cross-sectional correlational study was undertaken involving 91 CSCR patients, along with 91 patients with other non-chorioretinal diseases. Their risk factors, clinical history, ocular examination, and psychiatric assessments were done using standardized tools, and the groups were compared in terms of scoring of Framingham Type A scale (FTAS), Hamilton Anxiety Rating Scale (HAM-A), and Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HDRS)., Results: CSCR patients had a male:female ratio of 8:1. Chronic, bilateral, and recurrent diseases were found in 15%, 20%, and 23% cases, respectively. Anxiety disorder had a prevalence of 40%, followed by major depression with a prevalence of 24%, and these were significantly higher than non-chorioretinal disease patients (odds ratios 14.18 and 5.30, respectively). Also, these psychiatric disorders were significantly associated with an overall lower visual acuity and greater central macular thickness due to subretinal fluid accumulation., Conclusion: Psychiatric comorbidities like Type A personality trait and depression and anxiety disorders were significantly more prevalent in CSCR patients, compared to non-chorioretinal pathologies. Focus on psychological health would certainly benefit these patients in terms of better management of not only CSCR, but their psychiatric morbidity as well., (Copyright © 2023 Copyright: © 2023 Indian Journal of Ophthalmology.)

Introduction: The German Registry of central serous chorioretinopathy (CSC) collects data on CSC patients in a nationwide multicenter approach to analyze epidemiology, risk factors, clinical presentations, as well as diagnosis and treatment patterns., Methods: In this multicenter cohort study, patients with CSC were enrolled in nine tertiary referral centers in Germany between January 2022 and June 2023. After consenting to the study, demographic data, risk factors, reported symptoms, best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA), funduscopic findings, disease severity, and diagnostic and treatment decisions were recorded and analyzed., Results: A total of 539 eyes of 411 CSC patients were enrolled in this study including 308 males (75%) and 103 females (25%). Patients were predominantly of Caucasian origin and had a mean age of 55.5 years (IQR 41.0-70.0). 28% of eyes were classified as acute (&lt;4 months duration) CSC, 28% as chronic (&gt;4 months duration) CSC, 21% as inactive CSC, 11% as chronic atrophic CSC, and 12% as CSC with secondary CNV. 128 patients (31%) demonstrated bilateral CSC. The most common risk factors reported were psychological stress (52%), smoking (38%), arterial hypertension (38%), and a history of or current use of steroids (30%). Most frequently encountered symptoms included decreased visual acuity (76%), metamorphopsia (49%), relative scotoma (47%), blurred vision (19%), and dyschromatopsia (9%). The mean logMAR BCVA on initial examination was 0.2 (≈20/30, IQR 0.2-0.4) but showed significant variation with a tendency of lower BCVA in chronic cases. At the baseline visit, 74% of the overall cohort received no treatment, while 19% underwent local treatment and only 2% underwent systemic treatment. Of the local therapies, anti-VEGF injections were the most frequently performed procedure (33%, mainly for secondary CNV), followed by micropulse laser (28%), focal nonpulsed laser (23%), verteporfin photodynamic therapy (14%), and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory eye drops (2%). Among intravitreal anti-VEGF agents, aflibercept was used most frequently, followed by bevacizumab and ranibizumab., Conclusion: This registry represents one of the largest cohorts of European patients with CSC to date. Patient age and the proportion of women were higher than expected and bilateral active disease was lower than anticipated, highlighting that neither age nor gender should be overemphasized when diagnosing CSC. Therapeutic interventions are heterogeneous and include verteporfin photodynamic therapy, micropulse laser, and anti-VEGF injections in case of secondary CNV., (© 2024 The Author(s). Published by S. Karger AG, Basel.)

Purpose: To investigate whether patients with central serous chorioretinopathy (CSC) have increased risk of developing glaucoma., Methods: Patients diagnosed with CSC between 1 January 2008 and 31 December 2018 were included in this study using data from the Taiwanese National Health Insurance Research Database (NHIRD). The CSC cohort was matched with a non-CSC cohort using the propensity score matching method, based on sex, age (in 10-year intervals), index date year, comorbidities, and steroid use, resulting in equal numbers of patients in both cohorts. Patients were followed up until 31 December 2019 or until they were withdrawn from the NHIRD. The incidence of glaucoma was compared between the two cohorts using the Cox regression model, and the risk of developing glaucoma was estimated using the Kaplan-Meier method., Results: After adjusting for sex, age, comorbidities, and steroid use, the CSC cohort showed a significantly higher risk of developing glaucoma compared to those without CSC (adjusted HR = 3.99; 95% CI = 3.44-4.62). The cumulative incidence of glaucoma in the CSC cohort was also significantly higher than in the non-CSC cohort (log-rank test, p < 0.001). Among the glaucoma subtypes, normal tension glaucoma had the highest risk (adjusted HR = 5.79; 95% CI = 3.41-9.85), followed by primary open-angle glaucoma (adjusted HR = 2.77; 95% CI = 2.12-3.62)., Conclusions: In conclusion, our study shows that CSC patients are at a higher risk of developing glaucoma, especially NTG. Awareness and regular glaucoma screenings are essential for patients with CSC., (© 2023. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer-Verlag GmbH Germany, part of Springer Nature.)

The central serous chorioretinopathy (CSCR) is characterized by serous retinal detachments SRD associated with one or several retinal pigment epithelium detachments/irregularities (PEDs). The choroid is thickened with dilated choroidal veins and choroidal hyperpermeability suggesting an underlying choroidopathy. CSCR belongs to the pachychoroid spectrum. CSCR affects mostly middle-aged men and the main risk factor is the corticosteroid intake. In most cases, the subretinal detachment resolves spontaneously with a good visual prognosis. However, recurrent or chronic form of the disease can lead to irreversible retinal damage and decreased visual acuity. Laser on an extra foveal leak point or half dose/half fluence photodynamic therapy are the first-line treatment options., (Copyright © 2023. Published by Elsevier Masson SAS.)

Background: The retina is potentially associated with several physiological, hormonal, and metabolic changes during pregnancy. The few available epidemiologic studies of ocular changes in pregnancy have mainly concerned retinopathies. Pregnancy-induced hypertension, which leads to ocular manifestations including blurred vision, photopsia, scotoma, and diplopia, might induce reactive changes in the retinal vessels. Although several studies have suggested the existence of pregnancy-induced hypertension-related retinal ocular disease, there are few large cohort studies on this topic., Objective: This study aimed to investigate the risk of major retinal diseases including central serous chorioretinopathy, diabetic retinopathy, retinal vein occlusion, retinal artery occlusion, and hypertensive retinopathy in the long-term postpartum stage according to the presence of previous pregnancy-induced hypertension in a large cohort based on the Korean National Health Insurance Database., Study Design: On the basis of Korean health data, 909,520 patients who delivered from 2012 to 2013 were analyzed. Among them, patients who had previous ocular diseases or hypertension and multiple births were excluded. Finally, 858,057 mothers were assessed for central serous chorioretinopathy (ICD-10: H35.70), diabetic retinopathy (ICD-10: H36.0, E10.31, E10.32, E11.31, E11.32, E12.31, E13.31, E13.32, E14.31, E14.32), retinal vein occlusion (ICD-10: H34.8), retinal artery occlusion (ICD-10: H34.2), and hypertensive retinopathy (ICD-10: H35.02) for 9 years after delivery. Enrolled patients were divided into 2 groups: 10,808 patients with and 847,249 without pregnancy-induced hypertension. The primary outcomes were the incidence of central serous chorioretinopathy, diabetic retinopathy, retinal vein occlusion, retinal artery occlusion, and hypertensive retinopathy 9 years after delivery. Clinical variables were age, parity, cesarean delivery, gestational diabetes mellitus, and postpartum hemorrhage. In addition, pregestational diabetes mellitus, kidney diseases, cerebrovascular diseases, and cardiovascular diseases were adjusted., Results: Postpartum retinal disease during the 9 years after delivery and total retinal diseases showed higher rates in patients with pregnancy-induced hypertension. In detail, the rates of central serous chorioretinopathy (0.3% vs 0.1%), diabetic retinopathy (1.79% vs 0.5%), retinal vein occlusion (0.19% vs 0.1%), and hypertensive retinopathy (0.62% vs 0.05%) were higher than those found in patients without pregnancy-induced hypertension. After adjusting for confounding factors, pregnancy-induced hypertension was associated with development of postpartum retinopathy, with a >2-fold increase (hazard ratio, 2.845; 95% confidence interval, 2.54-3.188). Furthermore, pregnancy-induced hypertension affected the development of central serous chorioretinopathy (hazard ratio, 3.681; 95% confidence interval, 2.667-5.082), diabetic retinopathy (hazard ratio, 2.326; 95% confidence interval, 2.013-2.688), retinal vein occlusion (hazard ratio, 2.241; 95% confidence interval, 1.491-3.368), and hypertensive retinopathy (hazard ratio, 11.392; 95% confidence interval, 8.771-14.796) after delivery., Conclusion: A history of pregnancy-induced hypertension increases the risk of central serous chorioretinopathy, diabetic retinopathy, retinal vein occlusion, and hypertensive retinopathy according to 9-year long-term ophthalmologic follow-up., Competing Interests: Declaration of Competing Interest The authors have no conflicts of interest to declare., (Copyright © 2023. Published by Elsevier Inc.)

Aim: To determine the prevalence of Fuji sign in central serous chorioretinopathy (cCSC) patients and its predictive power of good response to photodynamic therapy (PDT)., Methods: Retrospective study, including 135 eyes of 130 patients diagnosed with cCSC treated with PDT between 2017 and 2021. Optical Coherence Tomography (OCT) images from these patients were compiled and analyzed. The presence of the Fuji sign, an anatomical finding recently described as a predictor of spontaneous resolution of the subretinal fluid (SRF) in cCSC, as assessed in basal images and the maximum height of SRF pre- and post-PDT OCT was measured., Results: Mean age was 56.6 years, 69.4% were men and the percentage of partial or complete resolution of the SRF after PDT was 75.55%. Only 8.9% of patients (12/135) had positive Fuji sign at baseline OCT. Among them, 50% (6/12) presented a complete response to the PDT (pre-PDT SRF: 109.00 (29.61) µm), 8.3% (1/12) had a partial resolution of the SRF (127 µm to 66 µm) and 41.6% (5/12) did not respond to PDT (pre-PDT SRF: 71.00 (22.82) µm, post-PDT SRF: 83.60 (36.13) µm)., Conclusions: Fuji sign has a low prevalence in cCSC and its presence is not associated with a good response to PDT., (Copyright © 2023 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Aim: To describe the clinical characteristics in a cohort of patients with the pachychoroid phenotype and to evaluate the association of ocular and systemic factors with type of complications observed., Methods: We report baseline findings from a prospective observational study which recruited subjects with subfoveal choroidal thickness (SFCT) of ≥300 µm on spectral-domain optical coherence tomography (OCT). Multimodal imaging was used to classify eyes as uncomplicated pachychoroid (UP) or pachychoroid disease with pachychoroid pigment epitheliopathy (PPE), central serous chorioretinopathy (CSC) or pachychoroid neovasculopathy (PNV) subtypes., Results: Among 181 eyes of 109 participants (mean age 60.6 years, 33 (30.3%) female, 95 (7.2%) Chinese), 38 eyes (21.0%) had UP. Of 143 eyes (79.0%) with pachychoroid disease, 82 (45.3%), 41 (22.7%) and 20 (11.0%) had PPE, CSC and PNV, respectively. Addition of autofluorescence and OCT angiography to structural OCT led to reclassification of 31 eyes to a more severe category. Systemic and ocular factors evaluated, including SFCT, were not associated with disease severity. Comparison of PPE, CSC and PNV eyes showed no significant difference in OCT features of retinal pigment epithelial (RPE) dysfunction, but disruption of the ellipsoid zone (PPE 30.5% vs CSC 70.7% vs PNV 60%, p<0.001) and thinning of inner nuclear/inner plexiform layers (PPE 7.3% vs CSC 36.6% vs PNV 35%, p<0.001) were more frequent in CSC and PNV eyes., Conclusions: These cross-sectional associations suggest pachychoroid disease manifestations may reflect progressive decompensation from the choroid to the RPE then retinal layers. Planned follow-up of this cohort will be beneficial in clarifying the natural history of the pachychoroid phenotype., Competing Interests: Competing interests: None declared., (© Author(s) (or their employer(s)) 2023. No commercial re-use. See rights and permissions. Published by BMJ.)

Aims: The aim of this study was to elucidate the epidemiological background of central serous chorioretinopathy (CSC), including its incidence and treatment pattern., Methods: This was a population-based longitudinal cohort study using a nationwide health insurance claims database of the Japan Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare (MHLW). As Japan employs universal health coverage, the database covers more than 95% of claims issued in Japan. We accessed all data stored in the database with permission from the MHLW. We traced all individuals aged 30 years or older and identified individuals with new onset of CSC between January 2011 and December 2018. CSC cases were categorised by age and sex for each year, and incidence rate was calculated. We also identified major treatments for CSC to elucidate the initial treatment pattern., Results: During the 8-year period, 247 930 incidences of CSC were identified, among which 75.9% were men. The crude incidence rate (per 100 000 person-years) in the general population aged 30 years or older was 34.0 (95% CI 33.9 to 34.2), in men was 54.2 (95% CI 53.9 to 54.4) and in women was 15.7 (95% CI 15.5 to 15.8). The mean age of onset was lower in men than in women (50.5±12.5 years vs 54.7±13.5 years). Most of the patients with newly diagnosed CSC (86.8%) did not receive major treatment., Conclusions: The current study provides the nationwide population-based evidence to clarify the detailed epidemiology of CSC. These results could help to understand the pathogenesis and mechanisms of CSC in the future., Competing Interests: Competing interests: None declared., (© Author(s) (or their employer(s)) 2022. Re-use permitted under CC BY-NC. No commercial re-use. See rights and permissions. Published by BMJ.)

Purpose: To evaluate whether frequent vigorous physical activity (PA) is significantly associated with active central serous chorioretinopathy (CSCR) and may represent a risk factor for CSCR., Design: Case-control study., Methods: This was a multicenter study. The patient population comprised consecutive patients with active CSCR and a comparable control group of healthy participants. Both groups were interrogated about their PA using a shortened version of the International Physical Activity Questionnaire. The Ainsworth Compendium of Physical Activities was taken as a reference for the activities requiring vigorous effort and to quantify the energy expended, expressed in metabolic equivalent of task (MET). As a main outcome measure, a moderate/high practice of vigorous PA was opposed to an absent/low practice of vigorous PA in the 2 groups., Results: A total of 105 patients with CSCR and 105 healthy controls were included in the study. Moderate/high vigorous PA was observed in 63.5% of the patients with CSCR and in 26% of the controls (P = .0001). The MET values of vigorous PA were 2173.2 ± 2081.5 in the CSCR group and 1216.3 ± 524 in the control group (P = .029). The potential risk of disease associated with moderate/high vigorous PA was 5.58 (odds ratio; 95% confidence interval 3.01-10.69, P = .0001)., Conclusions: This study demonstrates a significant association of vigorous PA with CSCR, indicating an increased probability of disease by 5.58 times. Frequent and intense PA, with the hypertensive episodes that it entails, can break the precarious hemodynamic balance in the choroid of individuals predisposed to CSCR, thereby favoring choroidal vascular decompensation and active disease., (Copyright © 2022 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Purpose: To investigate potential clinical and multimodal imaging factors in central serous chorioretinopathy (CSC) recurrence., Methods: The study was performed at nine Japanese medical institutions for patients who had experienced an active CSC episode. Demographic data and medical history were reviewed retrospectively. Significant differences in chronic manifestation, leakage site, leakage point number, leakage intensity, choroidal hyperpermeability, central retinal thickness (CRT) and subfoveal choroidal thickness were analysed between the recurrence and non-recurrence groups., Results: In total, 538 eyes (538 patients) diagnosed with CSC (402 men, 136 women; mean age: 53.4 ± 11.9 years) were enrolled. Among them, 253 eyes (47.0%) developed ≥1 recurrence (follow-up: 15.9 ± 13.5 months, range 3-86 months). Univariate and multivariate analyses indicated that a history of corticosteroid use (odds ratio [OR], 5.52; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.39-21.92; p = 0.015), bilateral disease (OR, 3.94; 95% CI, 1.47-10.6; p = 0.007), chronic manifestations (OR, 7.12; 95% CI, 2.93-17.28; p < 0.001), non-intense fluorescein leakage (OR, 3.34; 95% CI, 1.44-7.75; p = 0.005) and initial CRT (OR, 0.997; 95% CI, 0.993-0.999; p = 0.049) were significantly associated with CSC recurrence. Receiver operating characteristic curves were created, and the area under the curve for the multivariate logistic regression model of these five factors was 0.814., Conclusion: Patients with CSC who received corticosteroids and had bilateral disease, chronic manifestation, non-intense fluorescein leakage on fluorescein angiography or a relatively thinner CRT should be closely monitored to identify whether they are at high risk of recurrence., (© 2022 Acta Ophthalmologica Scandinavica Foundation. Published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.)

Purpose: To evaluate the association between obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) and central serous chorioretinopathy (CSCR)., Methods: A retrospective, cohort, longitudinal study was conducted using the national health insurance database in Taiwan between 1996 and 2013. Patients diagnosed with OSA were enrolled after exclusion, and a control group with similar age, gender, and major systemic co-morbidities were included in a 1:1 ratio by propensity score matching. The primary outcome is the occurrence of CSCR, and patients with CSCR were categorized via severity for further analysis. The percentage of incident CSCR in the OSA group and control groups and the adjusted hazard ratios (aHR) of CSCR were determined by Cox proportional hazard regression., Results: There were 13,084 patients enrolled in both the OSA group and control groups, respectively. The total event of CSCR was 50 (0.4%) in the OSA group and 25 (0.2%) in the control group ( P < .001). Moreover, the OSA group has an increased aHR of 1.9 ( P = .012) for developing CSCR. In the subgroup analysis, patients with OSA aged from 30 to 39 and 50 to 59 demonstrated higher risk of developing CSCR compared to the control group, and the presence of OSA would lead to a higher incidence of mild CSCR (all P < .05)., Conclusions: OSA patients aged from 30 to 39 and 50 to 59 have a higher risk of developing CSCR, while the severity of CSCR will not be worsen by OSA.

Purpose: To estimate the risk of incident age-related macular degeneration (AMD) in patients with central serous chorioretinopathy (CSC)., Methods: This population-based cohort study was finally conducted from January 2015 to December 2019. All patients with CSC from the entire population aged between 30 and 80 years were included. The incidence of CSC was estimated. Log-rank analysis and Cox proportional hazards regression analysis was used to evaluate the risk of exudative AMD in the CSC group compared with the non-CSC group., Results: During a recent 5-year study period, 36,053 patients were identified as having incident CSC. The annual incidence in the latest year was 19.61 (95% confidence interval, 19.58 to 19.63) per 100,000 people. A total of 11,492 patients were included in the study group and 22,984 in the non-CSC group. The CSC and non-CSC groups included 166 (1.44%) and 73 (0.32%) cases of exudative AMD, respectively. The risk of exudative AMD was significantly higher in the CSC group than in the non-CSC group (adjusted hazard ratio: 4.86; 95% confidence interval: 2.98 to 5.88; P < 0.001)., Conclusion: This study showed that subjects with CSC are at an increased risk of exudative AMD. This evidence supports a possible link between CSC and exudative AMD, particularly in Asian populations.

Background: Nephrotic syndrome (NS) is characterized by various etiologies that damage the glomerulus. Central serous chorioretinopathy (CSCR) is a retinal disease characterized by neurosensory detachment of the retina. Several case reports have described the relationship between both. Therefore, we try to analyze the epidemiological associations between NS and CSCR using the National Health Insurance Research Database in Taiwan., Methods: Data spanning 14 years were extracted from the National Health Insurance Research Database and sub-grouped. The variables were analyzed using Pearson's chi-squared test and Fisher's exact test. The risk factors for disease development with or without comorbidities were examined using an adjusted hazard ratio (aHR). Kaplan-Meier analysis was performed to evaluate the cumulative incidence of CSCR with or without NS., Results: A total of 14 794 patients with NS and 14 794 matched controls without NS were enrolled in this cohort study. The incidence rate of CSCR was higher in the study cohort than in the control cohort (aHR = 3.349, p < 0.001). The overall incidence of CSCR was 44.51 per 100 000 person-years in the study cohort and 33.39 per 100 000 person-years in the control cohort. In both groups, CSCR occurred more frequently in males than in females. Patients aged 40-49, 50-59, and ≥60 years in the study cohort had a significantly higher risk of developing CSCR than those in the control cohort (aHR = 3.445, 5.421, and 4.957, all p < 0.001). NS patient with a 4-week history of steroid usage has a higher risk of developing CSCR (aHR = 2.010, p < 0.001)., Conclusion: Our data showed that patients with NS have an increased risk of developing subsequent CSCR. Physician should routinely refer their NS patients to ophthalmologist for ophthalmic evaluation. This is the first nationwide epidemiological study reporting the association between these two diseases. Further studies are needed to clarify this relationship., Competing Interests: Conflicts of interest: The authors declare that they have no conflicts of interest related to the subject matter or materials discussed in this article., (Copyright © 2021, the Chinese Medical Association.)

Purpose: To investigate the clinical characteristics of central serous chorioretinopathy (CSC) with age., Study Design: Retrospective, cross-sectional study., Methods: One-hundred and forty-seven CSC patients were classified into three age groups (aged <50 years (younger group; n=53), 50-70 years (middle group; n=68), and >70 years (senior group; n=26)) and the characteristics were compared. Bilateral ophthalmic evaluation included the best corrected visual acuity (BCVA), spherical equivalents, fundus examination, fundus autofluorescence, optical coherence tomography (OCT), fluorescein angiography (FA), and indocyanine green angiography., Results: The male/female ratio became lower at more advanced ages (P=0.011). Bilateral macular abnormalities were observed more frequently in the senior group than the other groups (p=0.018) and multiple drusen were characteristic in the senior group (p<0.0001). The more advanced age groups displayed a worse BCVA (P=0.002). The rate of eyes with flat retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) elevation on OCT was significantly higher in the middle group than the other groups (P=0.024). The mean subfoveal choroidal thickness (SCT) was thickest in the younger group (P<0.0001). Unifocal leakage on FA and choroidal vascular hyperpermeability were mostly found in eyes of the younger group (P<0.001,P=0.020)., Conclusion: CSC cases in those aged >70 years were associated with an increased proportion of women and having bilateral macular abnormalities, multiple drusen, and multifocal leakage sites. The BCVA and the SCT decreased with age. Patients with CSC aged 50-70 years had the highest rate of flat RPE elevation on OCT. These characteristics need to be considered to make an accurate diagnosis, particularly in elderly patients., (© 2021. Japanese Ophthalmological Society.)

Background: Treatment options are sparse for patients with advanced cholangiocarcinoma after progression on first-line gemcitabine-based therapy. FGFR2 fusions or rearrangements occur in 10-16% of patients with intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma. Infigratinib is a selective, ATP-competitive inhibitor of fibroblast growth factor receptors. We aimed to evaluate the antitumour activity of infigratinib in patients with locally advanced or metastatic cholangiocarcinoma, FGFR2 alterations, and previous gemcitabine-based treatment., Methods: This multicentre, open-label, single-arm, phase 2 study recruited patients from 18 academic centres and hospitals in the USA, Belgium, Spain, Germany, Singapore, Taiwan, and Thailand. Eligible participants were aged 18 years or older, had histologically or cytologically confirmed, locally advanced or metastatic cholangiocarcinoma and FGFR2 fusions or rearrangements, and were previously treated with at least one gemcitabine-containing regimen. Patients received 125 mg of oral infigratinib once daily for 21 days of 28-day cycles until disease progression, intolerance, withdrawal of consent, or death. Radiological tumour evaluation was done at baseline and every 8 weeks until disease progression via CT or MRI of the chest, abdomen, and pelvis. The primary endpoint was objective response rate, defined as the proportion of patients with a best overall response of a confirmed complete or partial response, as assessed by blinded independent central review (BICR) according to Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumors, version 1.1. The primary outcome and safety were analysed in the full analysis set, which comprised all patients who received at least one dose of infigratinib. This trial is registered with ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT02150967, and is ongoing., Findings: Between June 23, 2014, and March 31, 2020, 122 patients were enrolled into our study, of whom 108 with FGFR2 fusions or rearrangements received at least one dose of infigratinib and comprised the full analysis set. After a median follow-up of 10·6 months (IQR 6·2-15·6), the BICR-assessed objective response rate was 23·1% (95% CI 15·6-32·2; 25 of 108 patients), with one confirmed complete response in a patient who only had non-target lesions identified at baseline and 24 partial responses. The most common treatment-emergent adverse events of any grade were hyperphosphataemia (n=83), stomatitis (n=59), fatigue (n=43), and alopecia (n=41). The most common ocular toxicity was dry eyes (n=37). Central serous retinopathy-like and retinal pigment epithelial detachment-like events occurred in 18 (17%) patients, of which ten (9%) were grade 1, seven (6%) were grade 2, and one (1%) was grade 3. There were no treatment-related deaths., Interpretation: Infigratinib has promising clinical activity and a manageable adverse event profile in previously treated patients with locally advanced or metastatic cholangiocarcinoma harbouring FGFR2 gene fusions or rearrangements, and so represents a potential new therapeutic option in this setting., Funding: QED Therapeutics and Novartis., (Copyright © 2021 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

The primary aim of this study was to determine whether psychosocial factors, such as post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and anxiety, are independently associated with the development of central serous chorioretinopathy (CSCR), a predominantly male eye disorder. A secondary aim was to verify previously determined risk factors in a veteran population. All CSCR subjects seen in one year at a veteran eye clinic were included. Chart review was performed to identify general health information as well as eye history. Univariate and multivariate analysis was performed to identify factors that were independently associated with the development of CSCR. Fifty-one cases of CSCR were identified and an additional 51 age-matched controls with healthy eyes were used for analysis. Multivariate analysis revealed that history of PTSD was strongly associated with the development of CSCR (OR = 9.43, p = .002), even more so than previously reported risk factors. Anxiety was significant at the univariate level (OR = 6.48, p = .001) but lost significance at the multivariate level. At the multivariate level, several existing risk factors were confirmed including sleep apnea (OR = 5.76, p = .004), heart disease (OR = 7.06, p = .004), smoking (OR = 5.52, p = .003) and steroid use (OR = 4.55, p = .005). PTSD was strongly associated with the development of CSCR in the veteran population studied and may represent an important modifiable risk factor.

Purpose: To survey the prevalence and clinical and genetic characteristics of pachydrusen in eyes with central serous chorioretinopathy (CSC) and those of Japanese individuals in the general population., Design: Prospective, observational cohort study., Participants: One thousand thirty-seven Japanese patients were included in this study. Three hundred seven patients (614 eyes) had treatment-naïve CSC without choroidal neovascularization in either eye, whereas 730 individuals (1640 eyes) were Japanese individuals from the general population without explicit ocular diseases., Methods: Pachydrusen were detected using color fundus photography, and subfoveal choroidal thickness was measured using OCT. Genotypic distributions of 3 single nucleotide polymorphisms, ARMS2 A69S, CFH I62V, and CFH Y402H, were evaluated., Main Outcome Measures: Prevalence of pachydrusen and association with choroidal thickness., Results: The prevalence of pachydrusen was significantly higher among CSC patients than among the general population group (40.1% vs. 15.6%; P < 0.001). Individuals with pachydrusen in either group were significantly older than those without pachydrusen (CSC patients: 62.1 years vs. 48.8 years [P < 0.001]; general individuals: 70.3 years vs. 51.9 years [P < 0.001]). No significant difference was found in subfoveal choroidal thickness between those with and without pachydrusen (CSC patients: 370 μm vs. 375 μm; [P = 0.574]; general population: 297 μm vs. 303 μm [P = 0.521]). However, after adjusting for age, gender, and refractive error, subfoveal choroidal thickness was notably thicker in individuals with pachydrusen than that in individuals without pachydrusen in both groups (P = 0.003 and P = 0.013, respectively). No significant difference was found in genotype distributions between CSC patients with pachydrusen and those without it; whereas, the T allele frequency of ARMS2 A69S was higher in general population individuals with pachydrusen than that in general population individuals without pachydrusen (42.2% vs. 33.9%; P < 0.001; OR, 1.86, adjusted for age, gender, and choroidal thickness)., Conclusions: Pachydrusen was observed more frequently in CSC patients compared with individuals from the general population. In both groups, pachydrusen was associated with a thicker choroid, suggesting that pachydrusen should be considered as a significant sign of pachychoroid., (Copyright © 2020 American Academy of Ophthalmology. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Aims: Glucocorticoid intake is a well-established risk factor for central serous chorioretinopathy that belongs to the pachychoroid spectrum disease (PSD). The study aimed to assess the prevalence of PSD and analyse the choroidal phenotype in patients with Cushing syndrome., Methods: A cross-sectional study was performed in Ophtalmopôle hôpital Cochin, Paris, France, with a systematic evaluation of hospitalized patients with Cushing syndrome, between November 2017 and July 2018. 56 eyes from 28 Cushing syndrome patients and 56 eyes of 28 age and gender-matched, and close spherical equivalent healthy participants were included. All patients underwent a complete ophthalmic examination including Enhanced-Depth Imaging (EDI)-Optical Coherence Tomography (OCT). Measures of subfoveal, 1000 µm nasal and 1000 µm temporal choroidal thicknesses were realized, and the presence of choroidal pachyvessels was evaluated. Hormonal tests evaluated the corticotropic axis., Results: The number of eyes with PSD was significantly higher in Cushing syndrome patients as compared to controls (21.4% versus 3.6%, p = 0.004). In Cushing patients' eyes, 17.9% had a pachychoroid pigment epitheliopathy (PPE) and 3.6% had a polypoidal choroidal vasculopathy. Pachyvessels were more common in Cushing syndrome patients than in healthy subjects (71.4% versus 42.9%, p = 0.002). Mean subfoveal choroidal thickness was 331 ± 110 µm in Cushing patients, with no statistical difference between the two groups. There was no correlation between choroidal thickness and urinary and salivary cortisol levels., Conclusion: Patients with Cushing syndrome have a higher prevalence of PDS. An ophthalmologic specialized follow-up of these patients with EDI-OCT could detect chorioretinal abnormalities and adapt the surveillance of these patients., (© 2020 Acta Ophthalmologica Scandinavica Foundation. Published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.)

Background: Central serous chorioretinopathy (CSCR) and liver cirrhosis share numerous risk factors and may have possible connections. We aimed to investigate whether patients with liver cirrhosis and the severity of cirrhosis have an increased incidence of CSCR., Methods: This population-based retrospective cohort study was conducted by collecting data from the Taiwan National Health Insurance Research Database from January 1, 2000, to December 31, 2015. We included patients who were newly diagnosed with cirrhosis and selected an equal number of sex- and age-matched control subjects. The effect of cirrhosis on the risk of CSCR was examined via a Cox proportional hazard regression analysis. The cumulative incidence of CSCR was assessed with the Kaplan-Meier method and the log-rank test., Results: Both groups in this study comprised a total of 25 925 individuals. The cirrhotic patients had a significantly higher cumulative risk of developing CSCR in following years than patients without cirrhosis (log-rank test < 0.001). Furthermore, compared with noncirrhotic patients, the risk of CSCR was increased 3.59-fold (95% confidence interval [CI], 2.31-5.28) in cirrhotic patients with complications, and 2.34-fold (95% CI, 1.27-3.24) in cirrhotic patients without complications. Additionally, male sex, springtime, diabetes mellitus, hepatitis B virus, and hepatitis C virus statistical significantly increased the incidence of CSCR., Conclusion: Cirrhosis is an independent indicator of CSCR. Among the cirrhotic population, patients with ascites and other complications have a higher incidence of CSCR than those with uncomplicated cirrhosis. Physicians should be observant when managing cirrhotic patients with visual disturbances., Competing Interests: Conflicts of interest: The authors declare that they have no conflicts of interest related to the subject matter or materials discussed in this article., (Copyright © 2021, the Chinese Medical Association.)

Purpose: This study aimed at psychiatric evaluation of patients with central serous chorioretinopathy (CSCR) and its association., Material: Consecutive patients diagnosed to have CSCR were included in the study. The participants underwent a routine eye examination. After informed consent, participants were subjected to psychiatric evaluation by a qualified psychiatrist. Details of evaluation and psychiatric disorders were documented and if treatment required were given by the psychiatrist. The outcome measure was the incidence of psychological disorder., Results: Cross-sectional observational data analysis of 40 patients diagnosed to have treatment-naive CSCR who agreed to undergo psychiatric evaluation were included in the study. The ethnic origin of the patients was Asian Indian. The mean age was 39.55 ± 8.33 years with a male to female ratio of 33:7. After a thorough psychiatric evaluation, 31 individuals (77.5%) diagnosed to have mixed anxiety disorders, 4 (10%) had the major depressive disorder, and 5 (12.5%) had adjustment disorder. All 40 patients had stressed personality. All 40 patients had treatment with anti-anxiolytics and advised lifestyle modification. Of these 40 patients, one patient (2.5%) underwent treatment additionally with an antidepressant., Conclusion: All patients with acute CSCR had some form of psychiatric disorder. Psychiatric evaluation in acute treatment naïve CSCR may contribute to the management besides other factors known in the management., Competing Interests: None

BACKGROUND The aim of the present study was to investigate the relationship between personality traits, stress, emotional intelligence, and central serous chorioretinopathy (CSCR). MATERIAL AND METHODS This prospective case-control study included 57 patients with acute CSCR and 57 age- and sex-matched controls with refractive errors. Inclusion criteria for CSCR group were acute unilateral onset of visual disturbances within 2 weeks until the first visit to the ophthalmologist and ophthalmoscopic finding of a round or oval macular detachment confirmed by optical coherence tomography as a dome-shaped serous neuroretinal elevation. RESULTS Using the Sixteen Personality Factor Questionnaire (16 PF), patients with CSCR achieved slightly higher scores on primary characteristics such as warmth (P=0.612) and perfectionism (P=0.137) when compared to the control subjects. Mean scores measured with the Social Readjustment Rating Scale (SRRS) were significantly higher in patients with CSCR (P=0.004), which means that these patients had notably elevated average reactivity to stressful life events. In addition, the number of patients with a high stress level was higher in the CSCR group than in the control group. Considering the level of emotional intelligence measured with the Trait Emotional Intelligence Questionnaire-Short Form (TEIQue-SF), patients with CSCR achieved significantly lower scores on well-being (P=0.003) and sociability (P=0.011) factors, as well as on total score (P=0.014). CONCLUSIONS A higher level of perceived stress is the most important psychological risk factor for CSCR. According to our results, a low level of emotional intelligence may be an additional factor that contributes to the occurrence of CSCR.

This retrospective, nationwide, matched cohort study investigated the temporal relationship of central serous chorioretinopathy (CSCR) following topical ophthalmic corticosteroid (TOC) use. Using the Longitudinal Health Insurance Database 2000 (LHID2000), we collected patients diagnosed with CSCR between January 2001 and December 2010 ( n   =  2921) and a control group ( n   =  17,526). Information for each patient was collected and tracked from the index date until December 2011. TOC users were classified based on (i) the date of the last prescription before diagnosis: current users (≤30 days) and former users (31-182 days and ≥183 days) and (ii) the prescription refill intervals: persistent users (interval ≤90 days) and non-persistent users (interval >90 days). The odds ratio (OR) was estimated from multivariate conditional logistic regression after adjusting for relevant confounders. After adjusting for age, sex, geographic region, index date, previously known comorbidities, the date of last TOC prescription before diagnosis, or prescription refilling intervals, the results revealed that patients were likely to have developed CSCR while using TOCs currently (OR = 30.42, 95% CI = 25.95-35.66, p < 0.001) and persistently (OR = 7.30, 95% CI = 6.13-8.69, p < 0.001) as compared to the controls. Our results indicate that current or persistent TOCs use increases the risk of CSCR. Thus, patients requiring TOCs should be advised of this risk, particularly in current or persistent use conditions.

Purpose: To identify the association between sleep apnea (SA) and central serous chorioretinopathy (CSC)., Methods: In this nationwide population-based study using the Taiwan National Health Insurance Database, we enrolled adult patients with a diagnosis of SA and matched each patient to 30 age- and gender-matched control subjects without any SA diagnosis. Using Poisson regression analyses, the incidence rate of CSC was compared between SA patients and control subjects., Results: A total of 10,753 SA patients and 322,590 control subjects were identified. After adjusting for age, gender, residency, income level, and comorbidities, the incidence rate of CSC was significantly higher in SA patients than in the control subjects (adjusted incident rate ratio for probable SA: 1.2 [95% CI: 1.1-1.4], P < 0.0001). Analyses of the propensity score-matched subpopulations also confirmed our findings. Risk factors for CSC in SA patients included male gender, age ≤50 years, higher income, presence of heart disease, absence of chronic pulmonary disease, and presence of liver disease. In SA patients, those who had received continuous positive airway pressure titration had a significantly lower incidence rate of CSC than the others., Conclusion: Our study revealed a significantly higher incidence rate of CSC in SA patients compared with the control subjects.

Purpose: To determine the incidence of central serous chorioretinopathy (CSC) stratified by age, sex, and diagnosis with obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), and to determine whether some patients with newly diagnosed CSC may be candidates for OSA evaluation., Design: Retrospective cohort study., Methods: We used the IBM MarketScan database to select 59,016,145 commercially insured patients in the United States between 2007 and 2016. We identified patients' first diagnosis with CSC, and defined patients as having OSA if they had a diagnosis following a sleep study. We specified Cox proportional hazard models with interactions between age, sex, and OSA status to determine patients' risk of developing CSC. We estimated the positive predictive value (PPV) that a new diagnosis of CSC would have in predicting a subsequent diagnosis of OSA., Results: Risk of CSC increased with age in years (hazard ratio [HR] = 1.030, P < .001) and OSA diagnosis (HR = 1.081, P < .033), and was lower in women (HR = 0.284, P < .001). We estimated the annual incidence of CSC was 9.6 and 23.4 per 100,000 women and men, respectively. Incidence was higher in women and men with OSA (17.2 and 40.8 per 100,000). The PPV of CSC diagnosis as a predictor of OSA was highest in the fifth decade of life., Conclusion: The incidence of CSC in our patient sample is higher than previously reported. Risk of CSC is higher in men than in women, and OSA increases risk of CSC in both men and women. Some patients, particularly older male patients, may be good candidates for OSA evaluation following a CSC diagnosis., (Copyright © 2020 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Purpose: The aim of this study is to report the prevalence, clinical and swept-source optical coherence tomography (SS-OCT) characteristics of pachydrusen in eyes with central serous chorioretinopathy (CSCR) and their fellow eyes., Methods: A total of 264 eyes of 132 patients with a diagnosis of CSCR (acute/persistent/recurrent/chronic/inactive) in atleast one eye, were analyzed in this retrospective, cross-sectional study. SS-OCT parameters including choroidal thickness (CT), large choroidal vessel layer thickness (LCVT) at fovea and the site of pachydrusen were recorded. Paired t test and analysis of variance (ANOVA) was used to compare CT in eyes with CSCR (subfoveal and site of pachydrusen) and multiple groups respectively., Results: The mean age of the study patients was 42.9 ± 9.5 years with 119 males (90.15%). Bilateral CSCR was present in 31 patients. Nine eyes (chronic, 4; persistent, 2; and inactive/resolved CSCR, 3) showed presence of pachydrusen with an overall prevalence of 6.82% (9 eyes of 9 patients out of 132 patients). There was no significant difference of subfoveal CT (SFCT) in eyes with CSCR (422.4 ± 107.8 μ) vs fellow eyes (407.0 ± 96.5 μ) and eyes with CSCR associated with pachydrusen (413.7 ± 101.5 μ) vs fellow eyes of CSCR eyes with pachydrusen (431.6 ± 188.8 μ) (P = 0.71). LCVT as a percentage of CT was higher at the site of pachydrusen compared to SFCT (69.8% vs. 50.8%)., Conclusion: CSCR can be associated with pachydrusen with a lower prevalence rate than previously reported. Whether the thickened large choroidal vessels at site of pachydrusen play any role in formation in pachydrusen needs further evaluation., Competing Interests: None

The recently emerged pachychoroid concept has changed the understanding of age-related macular degeneration (AMD), which is a major cause of blindness; recent studies attributed AMD in part to pachychoroid disease central serous chorioretinopathy (CSC), suggesting the importance of elucidating the CSC pathogenesis. Our large genome-wide association study followed by validation studies in three independent Japanese and European cohorts, consisting of 1546 CSC samples and 13,029 controls, identified two novel CSC susceptibility loci: TNFRSF10A-LOC389641 and near GATA5 (rs13278062, odds ratio = 1.35, P  = 1.26 × 10 -13 ; rs6061548, odds ratio = 1.63, P  = 5.36 × 10 -15 ). A T allele at TNFRSF10A-LOC389641 rs13278062, a risk allele for CSC, is known to be a risk allele for AMD. This study not only identified new susceptibility genes for CSC, but also improves the understanding of the pathogenesis of AMD., Competing Interests: Competing interestsThe authors declare no competing interests., (© The Author(s) 2019.)

Background: Both central serous chorioretinopathy (CSCR) and heart failure (HF) are disorders with a complex pathogenesis, whereas the two diseases might share similar pathogenesis. This study aimed to evaluate whether patients with HF are exposed to potential risk of CSCR by using the National Health Insurance Research Database (NHIRD)., Methods: Data were collected from the NHIRD over a 14-year period. Variables were analyzed with the Pearson chi-square test and Fisher's exact test. The risk factors for disease development were examined by adjusted hazard ratio (aHR). Kaplan-Meier analysis was performed to compare the cumulative incidence of CSCR., Results: A total of 24 426 patients with HF were enrolled in the study cohort, and there were 24 426 patients without HF in the control cohort. The incidence rate of CSCR was higher in the study cohort than in the control cohort (aHR = 4.572, p < 0.001). CSCR occurred more commonly in males than in females. The overall incidence of CSCR was 30.07 per 100 000 person-years in the study cohort and 23.06 per 100 000 person-years in the control cohort. Besides, subgroup analysis revealed that no matter in gender or age group, HF patients were in an increased risk of CSCR diagnosis (male/female, aHR = 3.268/7.701; 20-59 years/≥60 years, aHR = 3.405/5.501, p < 0.001)., Conclusion: HF is a significant indicator for CSCR. Patients with HF should stay alert for potential disorder of visual impairment. Further prospective studies to investigate the relationship between HF and CSCR could provide more information.

Aim: To evaluate clinical comorbidities and steroid use as risk factors for central serous retinopathy (CSR)., Methods: Using national insurance databases, we conducted a case-control study of beneficiaries with an incident diagnosis of CSR between 2007 and 2015 (n=35 492) and randomly selected controls matched on age-based and sex-based propensity scores (n=1 77 460)., Results: The mean age (SD) of cases was 49.1 (12.2) years, and the majority (69.2%) were male. Cases were more likely to have received steroids in the past year (OR 1.14, 95% CI 1.09 to 1.19, p<0.001) and to have comorbid Cushing's syndrome (OR 2.19, 95% CI 1.33 to 3.59, p=0.002), age-related macular degeneration (OR 5.24, 95% CI 5.00 to 5.49, p<0.001), diabetic macular oedema (OR 2.05, 95% CI 1.71 to 2.47, p<0.001) and diabetes mellitus (OR 1.44, 95% CI 1.33 to 1.56, p<0.001). Glaucoma was associated with lower odds of CSR (OR 0.54, 95% CI 0.51 to 0.56, p<0.001). Patients with other previously hypothesised risk factors (including essential hypertension, pregnancy, other autoimmune disease, sleep disorders, Helicobacter pylori infection and gastro-oesophageal reflux disease) had lower odds of CSR., Conclusions: Male middle-aged patients with recent steroid exposure were significantly more likely to develop CSR. Other risk factors include diabetes mellitus, diabetic macular oedema and age-related macular degeneration. Other previously hypothesised risk factors did not appear to confer increased risk. More research is needed to confirm and examine underlying pathophysiology., Competing Interests: Competing interests: None declared., (© Author(s) (or their employer(s)) 2019. No commercial re-use. See rights and permissions. Published by BMJ.)

Central serous chorioretinopathy (CSCR) is a condition that affects central visual function. It can produce blurred and/or distorted vision that can impact the performance of military duties. CSCR can recur in susceptible individuals. Incident cases of CSCR among active component service members were found to average 18.3 per 100,000 person-years (p-yrs) during 2001-2018. Incidence rates increased during the surveillance period by 60.7% and were more common with increasing age. Overall rates of incident CSCR diagnoses were highest among Air Force (20.7 per 100,000 p-yrs) and Navy members (19.9 per 100,000 p-yrs) and lowest among Marine Corps members (12.5 per 100,000 p-yrs). Pilot/air crew occupational groups had rates almost twice that of other groups. Annual recurrence rates increased 71.4% over the course of the 18-year period.

Introduction: TB has seen resurgence associated with HIV. Tuberculosis can affect any ocular tissue. The association of HIV with TB is supposed to increase the incidence and plethora of ocular manifestations in tuberculosis., Objectives: To study the various ocular manifestations seen in tuberculosis patients with associated HIV infection., Material and Methods: This hospital based, cross sectional descriptive study was conducted in Tribhuvan University, Teaching Hospital, Maharajgunj, Nepal and Geta Eye Hospital, Kailali from 2010 to 2015. Diagnosed cases of pulmonary and extra pulmonary tuberculosis with HIV co infection were evaluated for ocular manifestations after excluding other opportunistic infections., Results: Of 70 cases eligible for the study, extra pulmonary tuberculosis was seen in60% of the cases. 5 patients (7.1 %) had ocular manifestations. CD4 counts were <50/mm3 in 3 cases. Ocular involvement was seen in the form of choroidal granulomas, papillitis, cranial nerve palsy, retinal vasculitis and central serous chorioretinopathy., Conclusion: This study demonstrated that ocular involvement is a frequent finding in cases with tuberculosis and HIV. Ocular findings are more common in cases with lesser CD4 counts. As ocular tuberculosis can be visually devastating, we recommend regular ocular evaluation of all patients with HIV and systemic tuberculosis., (© NEPjOPH.)

Aims: To determine the demographic and morphological characteristics of patients with central serous chorioretinopathy (CSC) and describe risk factors for CSC., Methods: We retrospectively reviewed medical records of 811 patients with CSC and 816 healthy controls referred from 2002 to 2018., Results: The female/male ratio of patients with CSC was 1/2.7. Mean age of onset was 45.2 years. The peak prevalence for men occurred at 45-49 years. Women had two prevalence peaks, the higher at 55-59 years and the other at 45-49 years. Of these patients, 56.8% had unilateral disease, 42.1% had bilateral disease and 1.1% had only one eye. 671 (82.7%) patients had spectral domain optical coherence tomography (SD-OCT) images and 598 (73.7%) had enhanced depth choroidal images. Pigment epithelial detachment (PED) was detected in 763 (80.7%) of 945 eyes with SD-OCT images. Chronic cases were more likely to be bilateral and multifocal and to have PED (all p<0.001). Subfoveal choroidal thickness (SFCT) did not differ between chronic and classic cases (p=0.74), but SFCT was greater in multifocal cases than unifocal cases (p<0.001). In multivariate regression analyses, older age of onset, longer duration of disease and hyperopia were positively associated with having chronic disease rather than classic disease, and myopia and thyroid hormone replacement were negatively associated. Steroid use, antidepressant or anxiolytic drug use, smoking, pregnancy and hyperopia were risk factors, and myopia was a protective factor for CSC., Conclusion: This is the largest case-control study of CSC to evaluate demographic morphological characteristics and risk factors. Multiple factors are associated with CSC., Competing Interests: Competing interests: None declared., (© Author(s) (or their employer(s)) 2019. No commercial re-use. See rights and permissions. Published by BMJ.)

Purpose: 'Type A' behavioural characteristics and psychosocial stress have traditionally been associated with chronic central serous chorioretinopathy (cCSC). However, a characteristical personality profile could not be identified in these patients and the presumed association with stress is subject to controversy, due to a lack of convincing studies using validated measuring instruments. In this study, we aimed to assess maladaptive personality traits, psychological morbidity and coping strategies in patients with cCSC, in order to identify potentially modifiable psychosocial aspects which could be used in support to current standard treatment., Methods: A cross-sectional study in a cohort of 86 patients with cCSC using validated questionnaires. Findings were compared to both Dutch population reference data and reference data from patients treated for Cushing's disease., Results: Maladaptive personality traits were not more prevalent in patients with cCSC than in the general population, and psychological morbidity was not increased. Patients with cCSC were shown to make more use of passive coping, active coping and seeking social support. Interestingly, personality, psychological morbidity and coping characteristics of patients with cCSC were more comparable to features of patients treated for Cushing's disease than to population-based data., Conclusion: Maladaptive personality traits such as type A behavioural characteristics are not more prevalent in patients with cCSC. Patients with cCSC make more use of certain coping strategies, which could be addressed by psychosocial care to improve self-management. Further research is needed establish whether the course of disease can be improved by altering coping and reducing 'stress'., (© 2018 Acta Ophthalmologica Scandinavica Foundation. Published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.)

This retrospective, nationwide, matched cohort study investigated the risk of central serous chorioretinopathy (CSCR) following end-stage renal disease (ESRD). The study cohort included 84722 ESRD patients who were registered between January 2000 and December 2009 at the Taiwan National Health Insurance Research Database. An age- and sex-matched control group comprised 84722 patients selected from the Taiwan Longitudinal Health Insurance Database 2000. We collected information for each patient from the index date until December 2011. During the follow-up period, we found a significantly elevated risk of CSCR in the ESRD patients compared with controls (incidence rate ratio = 1.51, 95% confidence interval = 1.24-1.84). After adjustment for potential confounders, including age, sex, coronary artery disease, peptic ulcer, and obstructive sleep apnea, ESRD patients were 1.41 times more likely to develop CSCR (adjusted hazard ratio = 1.41, 95% confidence interval = 1.14-1.73). In conclusion, we found that ESRD patients showed a significantly higher risk of developing CSCR and recommend regular retina examinations and education regarding CSCR for patients with ESRD.

Purpose: To evaluate clinical profile of patients with uveitis who developed central serous chorioretinopathy (CSC)., Methods: Retrospective case series of consecutive patients of uveitis with CSC managed at a tertiary eye care center in India between 1994 and 2014. The data about clinical features, investigations, treatment, and outcomes were obtained from their medical records., Results: A total of 31 eyes of 26 patients with uveitis with a diagnosis of CSC between June 1994 and May 2014 were included in the study. The mean age of presentation was 42.8 ± 9.2 years, and 88.4% of the patients were male. CSC was bilateral in 19.2% of the patients, and in 38.4% patients uveitis was because of infectious etiology. CSC developed in 23 (88.5%) patients when they were on oral corticosteroid. The most common cause of uveitis in our study was choroiditis (48.4%), followed by retinal vasculitis (12.9%). The mean time for resolution of CSC was relatively less in patients with uveitis because of infectious etiology. In 10% eyes vision remained the same and deterioration of vision was noted in 19% eyes. Best corrected visual acuity of the patients at the time of presentation with CSC was 0.56 ± 0.34 and after the resolution of CSC was 0.48 ± 0.5 (P < 0.0005)., Conclusion: Patients with choroidal inflammations are more prone to develop CSC compared with other subtypes of uveitis. Management of CSC in uveitis can be challenging., Competing Interests: None

Purpose: To assess ophthalmologic characteristics in patients and unaffected individuals in families with multiple members affected by central serous chorioretinopathy (CSC), both at presentation and long-term follow-up., Methods: In 103 subjects from 23 families with at least 2 affected patients with CSC per family, prospective extensive ophthalmologic examination was performed, including best-corrected visual acuity, indirect ophthalmoscopy, digital color fundus photography, optical coherence tomography, fundus autofluorescence, and fluorescein angiography imaging. From these, 24 individuals from 6 families had undergone extensive ophthalmologic examination in either 1994 or 1995 and were followed up in this study., Results: Subretinal fluid accumulation on optical coherence tomography and/or "hot spots" of leakage on fluorescein angiography indicative of CSC were detected in 45 of 103 phenotyped subjects (44%). Findings suggestive of CSC, but without the presence of subretinal fluid on optical coherence tomography and/or "hot spots" of leakage on fluorescein angiography, were observed in an additional 27 family members (26%). In 4 of 17 previously nonaffected subjects (24%) from the 24 individuals that were followed up after more than 20 years, we found more severe abnormalities., Conclusion: Extensive ophthalmologic phenotyping resulted in the detection of (suggestive) CSC in 52% of family members of patients with CSC. Genetic factors may play an important role in these specific CSC cases. Moreover, during follow-up, progressive disease can occur in a noteworthy number of patients.

Aims: To determine the profile of CSCR patients from a tertiary health care set-up in India., Methods and Material: A total of 2780 (2447 males and 333 females) patients with a diagnosis of CSCR were included. Data regarding the demographics, profile of CSCR and systemic diseases, if any, were collected from a tertiary eye care network in South India from January 2012 to December 2016., Results: The prevalence of CSCR was found to be 1.7% (A total 2780 patients, with mean age of 42.3±10.1 years). A total of 2031 patients had a unilateral and 749 had bilateral involvement. Acute and chronic CSCR was seen in 1932 (69.5%) and 848 (30.5%) eyes respectively. The mean uncorrected visual acuity of the patients was 0.51±0.45 log MAR (Snellen equivalent 20/60) while the mean best corrected visual acuity was 0.32±0.40 log MAR (Snellen equivalent 20/40). History of smoking and steroid use was present in 214 (7.7%) and 758 (27.3%) individuals respectively. Hypertension and diabetes mellitus was present in 106 (3.8%) and 51 (1.8%) patients respectively. Most of patients {824 (29.6%) patients} were shift-workers. Laser was done in 336 (12.1%) acute and 223 (8%) chronic CSCR patients. Photodynamic therapy was used in 12 acute and 12 chronic cases., Conclusion: Prevalence of CSCR was 1.7%. The study provides an overview of patient profile among Indian subjects., (© NEPjOPH.)

Importance: Information on the incidence of central serous chorioretinopathy (CSC) in individuals who receive corticosteroids is scarce but clinically important because these agents are useful and widely used., Objective: To estimate the annual and 5-year incidence of CSC in South Korea in the overall population and in those who have used corticosteroid medications., Design, Setting, and Participants: A cohort study of a population-based random sample included East Asian adults for whom records are held in the Korean National Health Insurance Service database for calendar years 2011 through 2015. The data analysis was performed from July 1, 2017 to January 5, 2018., Exposures: Any type of corticosteroid use from 2002 through 2015., Main Outcomes and Measures: Incidence of CSC., Results: The data set contained data from 868 939 adults (4 117 768 person-years). From 2011 through 2015, 1423 individuals (among whom the mean [SD] age was 46.8 [16.4] years and 1091 [76.7%] were male) with newly diagnosed CSC were identified. From 2002 to 2015, 783 099 individuals in the data set (90.1%) had ever used corticosteroids. The incidence of CSC per 10 000 person-years was 3.5 (5.4 in men; 1.6 in women) among the total population, 2.5 (3.0 in men; 1.2 in women) in those who had never used corticosteroids, and 3.6 (5.7 in men; 1.6 in women) among those who had ever used corticosteroids. The risk of CSCR with individuals who had ever used corticosteroids was estimated as an adjusted hazard ratio of 1.81 (95% CI, 1.47-2.23) compared with those who have never used these drugs. Current or recent corticosteroid use showed a positive association with the incidence of CSC (depending on duration of use, adjusted hazard ratio ranged from 1.54 to 2.15). Corticosteroid use in 2006 through 2009 was associated with an increased incidence of CSC after 2011 (adjusted hazard ratio 1.57 [95% CI, 1.13-2.18])., Conclusions and Relevance: In 2002 through 2015, 90.1% of adults in Korea received corticosteroids at least once. Although there was a clear difference in relative risk, this data analysis could not replicate the more than 30-fold increase in the risk ratio of CSC that has been reported previously. The incidence of CSC in the most vulnerable group, middle-aged men, was estimated to be approximately 1 case per 1000 corticosteroid users in the year following medication use. The overall incidence among those who had ever used corticosteroids and those who had never used these drugs was 2.5 and 3.6 per 10 000 person-years, respectively. This study provides additional evidence to support the potential role of corticosteroids in CSC.

Purpose: To describe the relationship between central serous chorioretinopathy (CSCR) and stress in addition to the transient and permanent professional repercussions of this condition among security forces agents., Material and Methods: This is a retrospective, descriptive study of 22 CSCR patients. All patients were interviewed to establish their job status, a stressful triggering event, the number of consultations, absenteeism, the duration of episodes, the number of days off, exemption from certain activities and professional reclassification. All of our patients underwent a complete ophthalmological examination and ancillary testing (OCT optical coherence tomography, fluorescein retinal angiography) to establish the positive diagnosis and to determine the clinical form., Results: During their daily activity, all patients were armed and worked night security duty. They all reported a stressful event just before the onset of the disease. The average visual acuity was 4/10 P6 all forms combined; with a visual acuity between 1 and 2/10 for the chronic form. Visual impairment was associated with absenteeism (mean length of time off was 1.13 months per episode), exemptions from carrying arms or night duty in 36.36% of cases, with professional reclassification in 22.7% of patients., Conclusion: CSCR affects psychology and alters the quality of life of patients who are generally young and professionally active. This can interfere with work performance and cause temporary or permanent disability., (Copyright © 2018 Elsevier Masson SAS. All rights reserved.)

Purpose: To describe recurrence patterns and investigate candidate risk factors for recurrences of central serous chorioretinopathy., Methods: In 46 patients with acute central serous chorioretinopathy and follow-up >12 months after first episode resolution, parameters influencing recurrences were retrospectively evaluated using a frailty Cox proportional hazard survival model. Covariates included baseline systemic findings: age, gender, corticosteroid use, stress, shift work, sleep disorder, depression, allergy, cardiovascular risk; baseline optical coherence tomography findings: subfoveal choroidal thickness, pigment epithelial detachment pattern (regular/bump/irregular), number of subretinal hyperreflective foci at leakage site; baseline angiographic findings: fluorescein leakage intensity (intense/moderate/subtle/absent), hyperpermeability pattern on indocyanine-green angiography (focal/multifocal); and episode-related findings: duration and treatment of previous episode., Results: Twenty of 46 subjects (43%) presented ≥1 recurrences during a mean follow-up of 29.9 ± 9.5 months (range, 15-54 months). Follow-up duration did not differ between cases with or without recurrences (P = 0.3). Worse final visual acuity levels (logarithm of the minimal angle of resolution) were associated with a higher number of episodes during follow-up (P = 0.032, r = 0.28). In a univariate analysis, higher subfoveal choroidal thickness (P = 0.021), nonintense fluorescein leakage (= moderate/subtle/absent, P = 0.033), multiple subretinal hyperreflective foci (P = 0.026), and shift work (P < 0.0001) were significantly associated with recurrences, with a near-significant influence of irregular pigment epithelial detachment (P = 0.093). In a multivariate analysis, higher subfoveal choroidal thickness (P = 0.007), nonintense fluorescein leakage (P = 0.003) and shift work (P < 0.0001) remained significant and independent risk factors for recurrences., Conclusion: Multiple factors influence the risk of central serous chorioretinopathy recurrence. These findings may contribute to identify patients at higher risk, who could benefit from earlier or more intensive treatment.

Objective: To evaluate the frequency of central serous chorioretinopathy (CSC) in African Americans/blacks within an academic center in a predominantly African American city, as the current belief is that CSC is rare in this population., Methods: A retrospective review of all patients' charts diagnosed with CSC at Wilmer Eye Institute/Johns Hopkins University from August 2009-August 2015 was conducted via an electronic health record search (EPIC). The charts were categorized by self-reported race and gender. The diagnosis was confirmed by multiple physician consensus through chart and imaging review. Fluorescein angiograms were classified as single versus multiple point leakage. OCTs were evaluated for subfoveal thickness, location of fluid, presence or absence of pigment epithelial detachment. Color photos were categorized as to the extent of retinal pigment epithelial changes., Results: Of the 590 charts identified via EPIC as CSC patients, 407 were confirmed as CSC through chart and imaging review. 45 patients (11.1%) were African Americans and 298 patients (73.2%) were Caucasians. Of all patients seen during the study period, 0.09% of African Americans at Wilmer had CSC and 0.18% of Caucasians had CSC. While three fold more Caucasians were seen during the study period as compared to African Americans, this study's prevalence rate in African Americans/blacks at Wilmer Eye Institute was half of that in Caucasian/whites., Conclusions: CSC has been reported as exceedingly rare in African Americans, but our study suggests that CSC may be underestimated in this population. A large nationally representative population based study is needed to determine true racial prevalence to ensure that the diagnosis of CSC is not overlooked in African Americans., (Copyright © 2017 National Medical Association. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Purpose: To evaluate the clinical and multimodal imaging findings of various pattern dystrophy (PD) subtypes and report the initial misdiagnosis rate of PD patients resulting in unnecessary treatment in actual clinical practice., Methods: Retrospective, observational study. Forty eyes of 24 patients with PD were included. The distribution of PD subtypes, optical coherence tomography (OCT) and fundus autofluorescence (FAF) findings, initial misdiagnoses, revised diagnoses, duration between misdiagnosis and revised diagnosis, and unnecessary treatments administered were evaluated over this time-period., Results: Twenty-eight eyes (70%) showed adult-onset foveomacular vitelliform dystrophy, 6 eyes (15%) showed butterfly PD (BPD), 4 eyes (10%) showed reticular PD, and 2 eyes (5%) showed PD simulating fundus flavimaculatus and BPD mixed type PD. Most of the patients showed various types of hyperreflective material in the subretinal space on OCT, and hyperautofluorescence on FAF imaging. Eighteen eyes (45%) had a true PD diagnosis initially, whereas 22 (55%) of them were misdiagnosed as age-related macular degeneration, central serous chorioretinopathy, or non-specific RPE change. The mean duration between the initial and revised diagnosis was 18.7±16.8 months. In addition, 5 eyes in the misdiagnosed group underwent intravitreal anti-vascular endothelial growth factor treatment during this period., Conclusion: Pattern dystrophies are a heterogeneous group of macular disorders which may mimic several macular diseases. By knowing the multimodal imaging findings, especially the distinctive FAF findings of the PDs, we may easily diagnose the disease and save our patients from unnecessary treatments., (Copyright © 2017 Elsevier Masson SAS. All rights reserved.)

Purpose: We investigate seasonal variations found in patients with central serous chorioretinopathy (CSC)., Methods: We retrospectively investigated 201 CSC patients at the Osaka Medical College Hospital from January 2011 to December 2016 and evaluated their seasonal and monthly distributions., Results: The study population comprised 149 males and 52 females. There were significant seasonal differences in the distribution of patients, with 62 cases in spring, 37 in summer, 59 in autumn, and 43 in winter, and the monthly prevalence of CSC was high in March (n = 24), April (n = 22), and November (n = 23). In addition, seasonal variation of serous retinal detachment (SRD) in the macula could be observed in 12 recurrent CSC cases., Conclusions: The prevalence of CSC development was the highest in spring. In addition, recurrent SRD in the macula showed seasonal variation in some CSC patients. As factors related to CSC, season and temperature might influence the pathophysiology of CSC., (© 2018 S. Karger AG, Basel.)

Purpose: The purpose of this prospective study was to investigate the potential risk factors associated independently with central serous retinopathy (CSR) in a Greek population, using multivariate approach., Materials and Methods: Participants in the study were 183 consecutive patients diagnosed with CSR and 183 controls, matched for age. All participants underwent complete ophthalmological examination and information regarding their sociodemographic, clinical, medical and ophthalmological history were recorded, so as to assess potential risk factors for CSR. Univariate and multivariate analysis was performed., Results: Univariate analysis showed that male sex, high educational status, high income, alcohol consumption, smoking, hypertension, coronary heart disease, obstructive sleep apnea, autoimmune disorders, H. pylori infection, type A personality and stress, steroid use, pregnancy and hyperopia were associated with CSR, while myopia was found to protect from CSR. In multivariate analysis, alcohol consumption, hypertension, coronary heart disease and autoimmune disorders lost their significance, while the remaining factors were all independently associated with CSR., Conclusions: It is important to take into account the various risk factors for CSR, so as to define vulnerable groups and to shed light into the pathogenesis of the disease.