Gender variation in central serous chorioretinopathy

Background: Comparison of presentation and outcomes of central serous chorioretinopathy (CSC) between male and female subjects in different ethnic populations. Methods: Retrospective comparison between male and female subjects with CSC was completed. Demographic details, clinical presentations, imaging features and treatment outcomes were compared at baseline and at last follow-up. Results: This study included 155 male and 155 female subjects with a mean (CSD) age of 43.8 ± 10.3 and 57.0 ± 12.1 years, respectively, and a mean duration of follow-up of 8.49 ± 12.6 months. At presentation, there was no difference in visual acuity; however, visual acuity was significantly higher for female subjects at last follow-up (p = 0.02). Optical coherence tomography (OCT) analysis showed that subretinal deposits (p < 0.001), hyperreflective foci (p = 0.001), retinal pigment epithelial detachment (p = 0.01) and retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) irregularities (p = 0.03) were higher in male subjects at presentation. Angiographic analysis showed that diffuse leakage and RPE tracts were common in males (p = 0.01 and p = 0.02). No significant differences in choroidal dilatation or diffuse choroidal leakages were noted. Conclusions: Female subjects with CSC appear to have better outcomes, with less chances of diffuse RPE damage and other OCT features compared to males.