Visual Acuity May Inadequately Reflect the Vision-related Quality of Life in Patients with Chronic Chorioretinopathy Centralis Serosa

Abstract

Purpose To evaluate the vision-related quality of life (VRQL) of patients with chronic chorioretinopathy centralis serosa (CCS).

Patients and methods A prospective study included patients who visited our Department of Ophthalmology due to their chronic CCS and were asked to complete “The National Eye Institute Visual Function Questionnaire NEI-VFQ-39”. Similarly, controls without any signs of macular disease were asked to complete the same questionnaire.

Results A total of 75 participants were included: 45 with chronic CCS and 30 as a control group. In the CCS group, 4 patients (% 9) had chronic CCS in both eyes. The mean age (years) was 52 ± 10 in the CCS group compared to 52 ± 11 in the control group (p = 0.90). In the CCS group, 33 patients were men (73%), compared to 21 (70%) in the control group (p = 0.75). Best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA, logMAR) was 0.05 ± 0.08 in the CCS group and 0.03 ± 0.06 in the control group (p = 0.50). The overall score of VRQL was significantly lower in the CCS group than in the control group (77 ± 11 vs. 89 ± 7, p = 0.0001). Similarly, there were also significantly lower scores in the CCS group for other subscales, such as near and distance activities, dependence on others, mental health, social functioning, driving, social role impairment, and peripheral vision (p < 0.05). However, there was no significant difference between the two groups regarding eye pain and colour vision. In the CCS group, there was no statistically significant correlation between the total score of VRQL and age or gender of the patients, BCVA or duration of the disease (p > 0.05).

Conclusion Although the BCVA was not significantly different between the CCS and control groups, patients with chronic CCS had a significantly lower total NEI-VFQ score. This suggests that the BCVA alone might not provide an adequate assessment of VRQL in patients with CCS.

Zusammenfassung

Ziel Die visuell bedingte Lebensqualität (VRQL) von Patienten mit chronischer zentraler seröser Chorioretinopathie (CSC) zu bewerten.

Patienten und Methoden In dieser prospektiven Studie wurden Patienten mit chronischer CSC, die unsere Augenklinik aufsuchten, gebeten, den Fragebogen „National Eye Institute Visual Function Questionnaire“ (NEI-VFQ-39) auszufüllen. Eine Kontrollgruppe ohne Hinweise auf Makula-Erkrankungen wurde ebenfalls zur Teilnahme eingeladen.

Ergebnisse Insgesamt wurden 75 Teilnehmende eingeschlossen: 45 mit chronischer CSC und 30 in der Kontrollgruppe. Bei 4 Patienten der CSC-Gruppe (9%) war eine beidseitige chronische CSC vorhanden. Das Durchschnittsalter lag bei 52 ± 10 Jahren in der CSC-Gruppe und bei 52 ± 11 Jahren in der Kontrollgruppe (p = 0,90). Insgesamt waren 33 (73%) der CSC-Patienten und 21 (70%) der Kontrollprobanden männlich (p = 0,75). Der bestkorrigierte Visus (BCVA, logMAR) betrug 0,05 ± 0,08 in der CSC- und 0,03 ± 0,06 in der Kontrollgruppe (p = 0,50). Der Gesamtscore der VRQL war in der CSC-Gruppe signifikant niedriger als in der Kontrollgruppe (77 ± 11 vs. 89 ± 7; p = 0,0001). Auch in mehreren Subskalen – wie Nah- und Fernaktivitäten, Abhängigkeit von Anderen, psychische Gesundheit, soziale Funktion, Autofahren, Rollenfunktion und peripheres Sehen – zeigte sich ein signifikanter Unterschied zugunsten der Kontrollgruppe (p < 0,05). Kein signifikanter Unterschied bestand bei Augenschmerzen und Farbsehen. Innerhalb der CSC-Gruppe fand sich keine signifikante Korrelation zwischen dem VRQL-Gesamtscore und Alter, Geschlecht, BCVA oder Krankheitsdauer (p > 0,05).

Schlussfolgerung Obwohl der bestkorrigierte Visus zwischen den Gruppen nicht signifikant unterschiedlich war zeigten Patienten mit chronischer CSC einen signifikant niedrigeren VRQL-Gesamtscore. Dies deutet darauf hin, dass der bestkorrigierte Visus allein nicht ausreicht, um die visuelle Lebensqualität bei CSC adäquat zu erfassen.

Conclusion Box

Although the BCVA was not significantly different between the CSC and control group, patients with chronic CSC had a significantly lower total NEI-VFQ score. This suggests that the BCVA alone might not provide an adequate assessment of VRQL in patients with CSC.

Already known:

• Patients with chronic chorioretinopathy centralis serosa had a significantly lower vision-related quality of life than normal controls.

• Chronic chorioretinopathy centralis serosa is associated with type A personality.

Newly described:

• Best-corrected visual acuity alone might not provide an adequate assessment of vision-related quality of life in patients with chronic chorioretinopathy centralis serosa.

Keywords

Type A personality - chorioretinopathy centralis serosa - pachychoroid - vision-related quality of life

Schlüsselwörter

visuelle Lebensqualität - Persönlichkeit Typ A - Chorioretinopathie centralis serosa - Pachychoroidea

Publikationsverlauf

Eingereicht: 29. März 2025

Angenommen: 01. Juli 2025

Artikel online veröffentlicht:
29. August 2025

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