Acetazolamide for central serous retinopathy.

OBJECTIVE

To find out whether acetazolamide has a beneficial effect in the treatment of central serous retinopathy (CSR).

DESIGN

Prospective, nonrandomized, comparative trial.

PARTICIPANTS

Fifteen acetazolamide-treated and 7 untreated (control) CSR patients who completed at least 24 months of follow-up.

METHODS

Patients in the treatment group were given systemic acetazolamide according to a standard protocol. Main outcome measures were compared between treatment and control groups using Student's t test and the Mann-Whitney U test for statistical analysis.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Time until subjective visual improvement, time until full clinical resolution, and rate of recurrences.

RESULTS

Mean times to both subjective visual improvement and clinical resolution of the attack were shorter in the study group than in the control group. Recurrence rate did not differ between the study and control groups.

CONCLUSIONS

Acetazolamide treatment for CSR shortens the time for subjective and objective clinical resolution, but has no effect on either final visual acuity or recurrence rate of the disease.