Choroidal vascular hyperpermeability patterns in central serous chorioretinopathy correlate with microperimetry: CERTAIN study report 4.

PURPOSE: This report evaluates the association of three distinct leakage patterns of choroidal vascular hyperpermeability (CVH) on indocyanine green angiography (ICGA), previously correlated with disease chronicity, with retinal sensitivity measured by microperimetry in central serous chorioretinopathy (CSC): unifocal indistinct signs of hyperpermeability (uni-FISH), multifocal (multi-FISH), and diffuse (DISH).

METHODS

The CERTAIN study is a retrospective analysis of consecutive CSC patients referred to a tertiary centre between 01/09/2021 and 30/11/2022. Patients underwent ultra-widefield (UWF) and 55° ICGA plus comprehensive multimodal imaging, including microperimetry. Two independent graders assessed CVH patterns on UWF and 55° ICGA. In case of disagreement, a third grader adjudicated. Eyes with CVH and mesopic microperimetry data were included.

RESULTS

In total, 154 eyes from 91 CSC patients were included. On UWF ICGA, DISH showed lower macular sensitivity than the uni-FISH reference (-2.61 dB, p = 0.047). Sensitivity was also lower (-2.24 dB, p = 0.03) when comparing DISH to a combined uni- and multi-FISH group (FISH). On 55° ICGA, DISH again showed lower sensitivity versus uni-FISH (-3.13 dB, p = 0.01) and the FISH group (-2.82 dB, p = 0.010).

CONCLUSIONS

The CVH patterns of uni-FISH, multi-FISH, and DISH demonstrate a marked association with levels of retinal sensitivity in CSC patients, particularly macular sensitivity, which is lower in DISH compared to (uni-)FISH. Our findings highlight the potential role of ICGA patterns in assessing disease severity and functional prognostication.