Evaluation of retrobulbar blood flow with color doppler ultrasonography in patients with central serous chorioretinopathy.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: To compare retrobulbar blood flow in patients with central serous chorioretinopathy (CSC) and healthy subjects using color Doppler ultrasonography. METHODS: Thirty patients (age 23-54 years) with a first episode of acute CSC and 30 healthy controls (age 30-44 years) were evaluated. The peak systolic blood flow velocity, end-diastolic velocity (EDV), resistance index (RI), and pulsatility index (PI) were measured in the ophthalmic, posterior ciliary, and central retinal arteries. RESULTS: The posterior ciliary and central retinal artery EDV were lower in the patient group than in the control group, whereas RI and PI values were significantly higher (p < .05). The ophthalmic artery peak systolic blood flow velocity and EDV were lower in the CSC than in the control group (p < .05) without significant difference in RI and PI. CONCLUSIONS: Color Doppler ultrasonography provides additional insights into the pathophysiology of CSC and may support the vasospasm hypothesis.