Central serous chorioretinopathy associated with systemic corticosteroid treatment

Purpose: To describe retinal pigment epithelial changes associated with systemic corticosteroid treatment. Methods: We report on five patients who developed maculopathy during treatment with systemic corticosteroids. A thorough ophthalmologic examination including perimetry, fundus photography, and fluorescein angiography was performed. Results: Three patients displayed focal and two patients showed diffuse retinal pigment epithelial changes comparable to the acute and chronic form of central serous chorioretinopathy, respectively. Four of five patients had a complete visual recovery after decrease or cessation of treatment with corticosteroids. Conclusion: These five patients provide further evidence that systemic treatment with corticosteroids may damage the posterior blood-retinal barrier,leading to central serous choriorelinopathy. Visual acuity may increase after reduction of the dosage or cessation of treatment with corticosteroids. Patients on systemic corticosteroid treatment should be informed about possible symptoms of central serous chorioretinopathy in order to prevent irreversible visual loss.