Choroidal vascularity index as potential biomarkers in chronic central serous chorioretinopathy with macular neovascularization

Abstract Objective: To evaluate choroidal vascular index (CVI) in eyes with chronic central serous chorioretinopathy (cCSC) complicated with macular neovascularization (MNV) using ultra-widefield swept-source optical coherence tomography angiography. Method: We retrospectively analyzed 50 eyes of 46 patients with MNV due to cCSC (W group) and 66 eyes of 52 cCSC patients without MNV (Wi group). A group of 67 eyes of 40 age-matched normal subjects were included for controls. The scan protocol included a vertical 20 mm × horizontal 24 mm area comprising 9 subfields. CVI were compared among each group. Results: The average age in W group were significantly bigger than in Wi group (56.0±6.4 vs. 49.0±7.9, p < 0.001). Except for the superotemporal and temporal regions, the CVI was significantly lower in W group than in Wi group (all p < 0.05). The CVI of the central region in W, Wi, and normal groups were 35.66±3.31, 37.44±2.31, and 32.39±5.24, respectively (p < 0.001). Central CVI was correlated with subfoveal choroidal thickness (r = 0.674, p＜0.001) and W group (r = -0.304, p＜0.001). Conclusions: Decreased CVI may represent a change in the vascular structure of the choroid in cCSC with MNV eyes, and these changes are not limited to the macular area. CVI can be a potential biomarker for cCSC with MNV eyes.