Assessment of the Macular Function in Acute Central Serous Chorioretinopathy Using Multifocal Electroretinography

Purpose: To characterize the electroretinographic response of the macula by multifocal electroretinography (mfERG) in acute central serous chorioretinopathy (CSC). Materials and Methods: Prospective, observational study. 50 eyes with the first episode of acute CSC (<1 month duration) underwent complete ophthalmologic examination, measurement of best-corrected Snellen Visual Acuity (BCVA), contrast sensitivity (CS), fundus fluorescein angiography, and spectral domain optical coherence tomography (SD-OCT). First-order kernel mfERG responses recorded according to ISCEV guidelines were grouped into five concentric rings centered on the fovea for the analysis. P1 amplitudes (nv/deg 2 ) and implicit times (ITs, millisec) in each ring were compared with 71 age- and sex-matched controls. Results: Mean logMAR BCVA was 0.48 ± 0.29 while mean CS was 1.15 ± 0.4. Mean P1 amplitude was significantly decreased as compared to controls in rings 1 ( P < 0.0001) and 2 ( P < 0.0001). Mean P1 IT was significantly prolonged as compared to controls in rings 1 ( P = 0.022) and 2 ( P < 0.0001). LogMAR BCVA was significantly and negatively correlated with P1 IT in ring 1 ( r = −0.43, P = 0.002) while CS was significantly and positively correlated with P1 amplitude in ring 1 ( r = 0.341, P = 0.01). P1 IT ( r = −0.340, P = 0.013) in the central ring of mfERG had a significant negative correlation with macular thickness in the corresponding foveal ring of SD-OCT. Conclusion: MfERG response abnormalities in rings 1 and 2 in eyes with acute CSC reflect localized retinal dysfunction. Correlation of the central ring in mfERG with BCVA and CS reinforces that the mfERG can be an acceptable method of objectively assessing the macular function.