Scleral Thickness in Central Serous Chorioretinopathy

Purpose: To evaluate scleral thickness in central serous chorioretinopathy (CSC) using anterior segment (AS) OCT.

Design: Retrospective, comparative study.

Participants: Forty-seven eyes of 40 patients with CSC and 53 eyes of 47 age- and gender-matched normal control participants.

Methods: Spherical equivalent, axial length, subfoveal choroidal thickness, and scleral thickness were compared between the CSC and control groups. Scleral thickness was measured by AS OCT 6 mm posterior to the scleral spur in 4 directions.

Main outcome measure: Scleral thickness in CSC eyes.

Results: No differences were found between the 2 groups in age, gender, spherical equivalent, or axial length. Subfoveal choroidal thickness was significantly greater in CSC eyes than in normal control eyes (424.0 ± 101.4 μm vs. 324.3 ± 91.8 μm; P < 0.001). Scleral thickness was significantly greater in CSC eyes than in normal control eyes at the superior (429.4 ± 50.3 μm vs. 395.2 ± 55.4 μm; P = 0.005), temporal (447.7 ± 45.7 μm vs. 396.5 ± 64.1 μm; P < 0.001), inferior (455.7 ± 81.2 μm vs. 437.8 ± 46.9 μm; P = 0.022), and nasal (454.9 ± 44.7 μm vs. 416.6 ± 51.2 μm; P = 0.001) points.

Conclusions: Scleral thickness measured by AS OCT was significantly greater in CSC eyes than in normal control eyes, although no differences were found in spherical equivalent or axial length. Thick sclera may have a role in the pathogenesis of CSC.