Central serous chorioretinopathy risk factors in the mid-Euphrates region, Iraq

ABSTRACT

Central serous chorioretinopathy (CSC) is an ophthalmic disorder that often affects young male patients under psychological stres and is clinically characterized by blurring of vision, metamorphopsia, a visual abnormality in which normally straight lines appears curved, and micropsia, a visual abnormality in which objects appear smaller than normal. The annual incidence of the condition is not well recognized in our country. The objective of this cross-sectional study was to highlight the incidence rate of CSC in our community and to make an insight on possible associated risk factors. This cross-sectional study included 92 patients with vissual impairment that has been proved due to central serous chorioretinoplathy (CRC). The sample included 68 males and 24 females. The sample of CRC was all the available patients visiting ophthalmology unit at Al-Diwaniyah teaching hospital and at the ophthalmology unit at Medical Committee Instituion, both these health centers lie at Al-Diwaniyah province, mid-Euphrates region, Iraq. A rough estimation of the annual incidence of CRC in this mid-Euphrates region of Iraq was 3.5 per 100.000. Mean age of patients was 43.02 ± 4.71 years, and the disease was 2.83 times more common in males. The main possible risk factors are psychosocial stress and steroid therapy. CRC is common in our community, and the main possible risk factors are psychosocial stress, and steroid use and these associations need to be validated in a large longitudinal study or at least a case-control study