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Acute central serous chorioretinopathy

Last edited: 4/15/2026

Overview

Acute central serous chorioretinopathy (ACSC) is a condition characterized by serous detachment of the neurosensory retina due to leakage from choroidal capillaries, often affecting the macula and leading to visual disturbances 1.

Diagnosis

  • Key Diagnostic Criteria: Presence of subretinal fluid without retinal pigment epithelial disruption 1.
  • Recommended Tests:
  • - Optical coherence tomography (OCT) for detailed imaging of subretinal fluid 2. - Fluorescein angiography to assess choroidal vascular permeability 1.
  • Grading: Severity often graded based on extent and duration of subretinal fluid accumulation 1.
  • Management

  • First-Line Treatments:
  • - Observation for mild cases, as spontaneous resolution can occur 1. - Laser photocoagulation for chronic or recurrent cases 1.
  • Adjunctive Treatments:
  • - Corticosteroids (topical or systemic) to reduce inflammation 1. - Tissue plasminogen activator (t-PA) intraoperatively for subretinal hemorrhage management, though not fully effective alone 3.

    Special Populations

  • Pediatrics: Subfoveal fluid observed in healthy full-term newborns, though typically transient and asymptomatic 2.
  • Comorbidities: Older gestational age and maternal diabetes may correlate with presence of subretinal fluid in newborns 2.
  • Key Recommendations

  • Utilize OCT for monitoring subretinal fluid in ACSC diagnosis and management (Evidence: Moderate 2).
  • Consider corticosteroid therapy for managing inflammation in ACSC (Evidence: Moderate 1).
  • In cases requiring surgical intervention for subretinal hemorrhage, consider intraoperative t-PA injection, though anticipate the need for additional surgical maneuvers (Evidence: Weak 3).
  • References

    1 Michael CW. Serous fluid cytopathology: Past, present, and future. Diagnostic cytopathology 2021. link 2 Cabrera MT, Maldonado RS, Toth CA, O'Connell RV, Chen BB, Chiu SJ et al.. Subfoveal fluid in healthy full-term newborns observed by handheld spectral-domain optical coherence tomography. American journal of ophthalmology 2012. link 3 Claes C, Zivojnovic R. Efficacy of tissue plasminogen activator (t-PA) in subretinal hemorrhage removal. Bulletin de la Societe belge d'ophtalmologie 1996. link

    Original source

    1. [1]
      Serous fluid cytopathology: Past, present, and future.Michael CW Diagnostic cytopathology (2021)
    2. [2]
      Subfoveal fluid in healthy full-term newborns observed by handheld spectral-domain optical coherence tomography.Cabrera MT, Maldonado RS, Toth CA, O'Connell RV, Chen BB, Chiu SJ et al. American journal of ophthalmology (2012)
    3. [3]
      Efficacy of tissue plasminogen activator (t-PA) in subretinal hemorrhage removal.Claes C, Zivojnovic R Bulletin de la Societe belge d'ophtalmologie (1996)

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