Risk factors and characteristics of central serous chorioretinopathy with later development of macular neovascularisation detected on OCT angiography: a retrospective multicentre observational study

OBJECTIVE: To identify the risk factors and characteristics of central serous chorioretinopathy (CSC) with subsequent macular neovascularisation (MNV) detected on optical coherence tomography angiography (OCTA). METHODS AND ANALYSIS: We included patients from six institutions who were initially diagnosed with CSC and subsequently did or did not develop MNV detected by OCTA. Potential influencing factors were identified by evaluating the patients’ baseline demographics, multimodal fundus imaging, treatment options, recurrence and outcomes in both groups. RESULTS: We enrolled 176 eyes in 152 patients (112 men, 40 women; mean age: 52.1±10.4 years) with a mean follow-up of 30.4±16.3 months. Secondary MNV was present in 23 eyes (13.1%), and non-MNV was observed in 153 eyes (86.9%) by OCTA. Multivariate analysis revealed that older age (OR 1.06; 95% CI 1.01 to 1.11; p=0.014), chronic CSC (OR 3.05; 95% CI 1.12 to 8.30; p=0.029), leakage sites within the fovea on fluorescein angiography (OR 7.60; 95% CI, 1.89 to 30.48; p=0.004) and recurrent fluid within the first year (OR 5.12; 95% CI 1.66 to 15.77; p=0.012) were risk factors for subsequent MNV. Moreover, eyes with CSC complicated with MNV were characterised by poor visual acuity and low complete fluid resolution rates. CONCLUSION: The factors associated with MNV secondary to CSC were older age, higher rates of chronic CSC and recurrence, and foveal leakage points on fluorescein angiography.