Subretinal dot-like precipitates and yellow material in central serous chorioretinopathy.

PURPOSE: Multiple, dot-like, yellow precipitates and subretinal yellow material are sometimes deposited within the area of a serous retinal detachment in central serous chorioretinopathy. We report the incidence and clinical features of these depositions in central serous chorioretinopathy.

METHODS

Eighty eyes of 75 patients (average age, 50.2 years) with central serous chorioretinopathy were studied retrospectively. Fundus autofluorescence and optical coherence tomography findings were evaluated. Precipitates were defined as those ≤ 63 μm in diameter and subretinal yellow material >63 μm.

RESULTS

The mean follow-up period was 17.6 months. Forty-five eyes (56.3%) had dot-like precipitates, and 40 eyes (50.0%) had subretinal yellow material. Fifty-two of 80 eyes (65.0%) had both or at least one of them; of these 52 eyes, 50 eyes (96.2%) had hyperautofluorescence and 42 eyes (80.8%) had high reflectivity on optical coherence tomography. The depositions in 23 eyes were not hyperautofluorescent at the initial examination, but the hyperautofluorescence developed during the follow-up period.

CONCLUSION

Dot-like precipitates and subretinal yellow material were seen in 65% of cases with central serous chorioretinopathy that also showed high reflectivity on optical coherence tomography and hyperautofluorescence during follow-up. These findings may indicate that these formations are associated with shedding of the photoreceptor outer segments and metabolism by phagocytes.