Increased risk of glaucoma development in patients with central serous chorioretinopathy: results of a 11-year population-based cohort study

Purpose: To investigate whether patients with central serous chorioretinopathy (CSC) have increased risk of developing glaucoma.

Methods: Patients diagnosed with CSC between 1 January 2008 and 31 December 2018 were included in this study using data from the Taiwanese National Health Insurance Research Database (NHIRD). The CSC cohort was matched with a non-CSC cohort using the propensity score matching method, based on sex, age (in 10-year intervals), index date year, comorbidities, and steroid use, resulting in equal numbers of patients in both cohorts. Patients were followed up until 31 December 2019 or until they were withdrawn from the NHIRD. The incidence of glaucoma was compared between the two cohorts using the Cox regression model, and the risk of developing glaucoma was estimated using the Kaplan-Meier method.

Results: After adjusting for sex, age, comorbidities, and steroid use, the CSC cohort showed a significantly higher risk of developing glaucoma compared to those without CSC (adjusted HR = 3.99; 95% CI = 3.44-4.62). The cumulative incidence of glaucoma in the CSC cohort was also significantly higher than in the non-CSC cohort (log-rank test, p < 0.001). Among the glaucoma subtypes, normal tension glaucoma had the highest risk (adjusted HR = 5.79; 95% CI = 3.41-9.85), followed by primary open-angle glaucoma (adjusted HR = 2.77; 95% CI = 2.12-3.62).

Conclusions: In conclusion, our study shows that CSC patients are at a higher risk of developing glaucoma, especially NTG. Awareness and regular glaucoma screenings are essential for patients with CSC.