Photo Credit: Pikovit44

The following is a summary of “Choroidal Layer Analysis Under Flat Irregular Pigment Epithelial Detachments in Central Serous Chorioretinopathy,” published in the April 2025 issue of American Journal of Ophthalmology by Viggiano et al. 

Researchers conducted a retrospective study to compare choroidal layer thickness beneath flat, irregular pigment epithelial detachments (PEDs) in uncomplicated chronic central serous chorioretinopathy (uCSC) and central serous chorioretinopathy (CSC) complicated by type 1 macular neovascularization (cCSC).  

They included 94 treatment-naïve eyes (45 uCSC, 49 cCSC) with flat, irregular PEDs. Choriocapillaris-Sattler layer complex thickness (SLCCT) and Haller’s layer thickness (HLT) beneath the PEDs were measured using swept-source optical coherence tomography (SS-OCT). Measurements were taken from the central segments of 3 equal divisions under each PED.  

The results showed that mean SLCCT was significantly lower in cCSC compared to uCSC (47.2 ± 18.6 μm vs 81.4 ± 22.4 μm, P = 0.002). Similarly, HLT was also reduced in cCSC (265.3 ± 45.8 μm vs 334.5 ± 43.2 μm, P = 0.008). Other factors such as age (56.1 ± 7.9 vs 54.3 ± 8.4 years, P = 0.28), disease duration (11.2 ± 3.1 vs 8.4 ± 2.6 months, P = 0.08), and PED dimensions were similar between the groups.  

Investigators concluded that cCSC eyes had shown significant thinning of both the SLCCT and Haller’s layer under flat irregular PEDs compared to uCSC eyes, suggesting that progressive choroidal thinning might have been a key feature of neovascular transformation and a potential biomarker for identifying eyes at risk for neovascular complications. 

Source: ajo.com/article/S0002-9394(25)00173-4/abstract