Central serous retinopathy

Most cases clear up without treatment in 1 or 2 months. Patients with more severe leakage and more severe visual loss, or those in whom the disease lasts longer, may be helped by laser treatment or photodynamic therapy to seal the leak and attempt to restore vision.

Patients who are using steroid drugs (for example, to treat autoimmune diseases) should stop using them, if possible. Any change in steroid drug use in these conditions must be under the supervision of a physician.

Most patients recover good vision without treatment, although it's often not as good as it was before the condition occurred.

The disease returns in about half of all patients, and has a similarly good outlook. Rarely, patients develop permanent scars that damage their central vision.

A small number of patients will have complications of laser treatment that impair central vision. That is why most patients will be allowed to recover without treatment.

Call your health care provider if your vision gets worse.

Images

Retina

Review Date: 07/28/2010
Reviewed By: Linda J. Vorvick, MD, Medical Director, MEDEX Northwest Division of Physician Assistant Studies, University of Washington, School of Medicine; and Franklin W. Lusby, MD, Ophthalmologist, Lusby Vision Institute, La Jolla, California. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.

A.D.A.M., Inc. is accredited by URAC, also known as the American Accreditation HealthCare Commission (www.urac.org)