During the year I get many patients that come in with vision that seems to fluctuate. There are a lot of reasons for this but one that sticks out in peoples mind is stress. When a patient’s stress level gets to a certain point, it can affect blood pressure, cholesterol levels and even your vision. There is one condition of the eye that is thought to be due to a person’s age, gender and stress levels, central serous chorioretinopathy (CSCR).
This is a problem that affects the macula (the area of central fine vision). CSCR occurs when a small break forms in a layer in this area. Fluid from the layer of blood vessels that lie underneath the retina seeps up through the break, causing a small detachment to form under the retina. This problem is similar to a water blister on your hand. CSCR affects men more often then women and usually occurs between the ages of 25 and 50. Stress is thought to be linked to this problem. CSCR typically resolves spontaneously, but it can recur. In some cases, it may lead to moderate but permanent loss of central vision.
Signs and symptoms of this condition are blurry, distorted or wavy central vision and in some cases a circular central blind spot. Your eye doctor can detect this condition by looking into the back of your eye. Further testing may be done to make sure there is no other leakage of fluid in the back of your eye.
There is no treatment for this condition except rest and relaxation. Most patients with CSCR do not require treatment. The fluid usually absorbs gradually over a period of months. Occasionally, steroid and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory eye drops are prescribed. In cases where visual recovery is delayed, laser treatment may be required to seal the leak and help the vision improve.
For more information, please call 661-259-2168.