Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsHome Remedies and LifestyleOver-the-Counter TherapiesPrescriptionsSurgeries and Procedures
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
Home Remedies and Lifestyle
Over-the-Counter Therapies
Prescriptions
Surgeries and Procedures
Central serous retinopathy, also calledcentral serous chorioretinopathy, does not always require treatment. It often will go away on its own after a couple of months. Sometimes, an eye doctor may decide to treat central serous retinopathy if it is severe or recurring.
This article reviews some of the most common treatment approaches for central serous retinopathy, including monitoring, medications, and laser treatment.
Verywell / Joules Garcia
Most cases of central serous retinopathy do not require treatment as the fluid build-up under the retina (the light-sensitive tissue in the back of the eye) often goes away on its own after a couple of months.
If your eye doctor wants to monitor your central serous retinopathy without treating it, make sure to return for any follow-up appointments. Those appointments can help see if the fluid build-up is going away or staying the same.
There are no over-the-counter therapies for central serous retinopathy. Eye doctors will use laser or laser-assisted treatments, medications, and monitoring. The majority of people with central serous retinopathy achieve good vision again even without any treatment.
Although laser and laser-assisted treatments are more commonly used for central serous retinopathy, eye doctors sometimes will use prescription medications. Your eye doctor may be more likely to consider treatments if your central serous retinopathy does not resolve after more than two months.
Prescription medications for central serous retinopathy do not have the same amount of research as laser treatment.
Medications that have had mixed results and may be recommended include:
Surgeries and Specialist-Driven Procedures
The most common treatment for central serous retinopathy is calledphotodynamic therapy. This uses a special laser called a cold laser to treat the fluid build-up under the retina when central serous retinopathy occurs or recurs.
When photodynamic therapy is performed, an eye doctor or technicians will inject a drug called verteporfin in the arm. The drug reaches the eye, and the cold laser shined onto the eye helps to activate the drug.This treatment aims to contain the leaking fluid under the eye and improve vision. Photodynamic therapy is more commonly used if you:
Another therapy used for central serous retinopathy islaser photocoagulation.This is an eye surgery that eliminates any abnormal structures in the retina and can help seal the leaking fluid. It is not used often for recurrences of central serous retinopathy.
A third option for central serous retinopathy is subthreshold micropulse laser therapy, which uses a laser with repetitive, short pulses to lower build-up in the eye.
Summary
Central serous retinopathy usually goes away on its own after a couple of months. For this reason, doctors will not always treat it. When it does require treatment, photodynamic therapy is the most common treatment used. There are some prescription medications that have helped improve vision and reduced fluid build-up in studies, but they require further research.
A Word From Verywell
Keep track of your symptoms if you know you have central serous retinopathy. Let your eye doctor know of any symptom changes. If your central serous retinopathy gets better but then occurs again, let your doctor know so you can work together to find the best treatment for you.
8 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Porter D. American Academy of Ophthalmology.Central serous chorioretinopathy diagnosis and treatment.Caccavale A, Romanazzi F, Imparato M, et al.Low-dose aspirin as treatment for central serous chorioretinopathy. Clin Ophthalmol. 2010; 4: 899–903. doi: 10.2147/opth.s12583Hanumunthadu D, Tan ACS, Singh SR, Sahu NK, Chhablani J.Management of chronic central serous retinopathy. Indian J Ophthalmol. 2018 Dec; 66(12): 1704–1714. doi:10.4103/ijo.IJO_1077_18Avci R, Deutman AF.Treatment of central serous choroidopathy with the beta receptor blocker metoprolol (preliminary results).Klin Monbl Augenheilkd. 1993;202(3):199-205. doi:10.1055/s-2008-1045583Kurup SK, Oliver A, Emanuelli A, Hau V, Callanan D.Low-dose methotrexate for the treatment of chronic central serous retinopathy: a retrospective analysis. Retina. 012;32(10):2096-101. doi:10.1097/IAE.0b013e31825dd281.Shulman S, Goldenberg D, Schwartz R, et al.Oral rifampin treatment for longstanding chronic central serous retinopathy. Graefes Arch Clin Exp Ophthalmol. 2016;254(1):15-22. doi:10.1007/s00417-015-2989-z.U.S. National Library of Medicine.Central serous choroidopathy.American Society of Retinal Specialists.Central serous choroidopathy.
8 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Porter D. American Academy of Ophthalmology.Central serous chorioretinopathy diagnosis and treatment.Caccavale A, Romanazzi F, Imparato M, et al.Low-dose aspirin as treatment for central serous chorioretinopathy. Clin Ophthalmol. 2010; 4: 899–903. doi: 10.2147/opth.s12583Hanumunthadu D, Tan ACS, Singh SR, Sahu NK, Chhablani J.Management of chronic central serous retinopathy. Indian J Ophthalmol. 2018 Dec; 66(12): 1704–1714. doi:10.4103/ijo.IJO_1077_18Avci R, Deutman AF.Treatment of central serous choroidopathy with the beta receptor blocker metoprolol (preliminary results).Klin Monbl Augenheilkd. 1993;202(3):199-205. doi:10.1055/s-2008-1045583Kurup SK, Oliver A, Emanuelli A, Hau V, Callanan D.Low-dose methotrexate for the treatment of chronic central serous retinopathy: a retrospective analysis. Retina. 012;32(10):2096-101. doi:10.1097/IAE.0b013e31825dd281.Shulman S, Goldenberg D, Schwartz R, et al.Oral rifampin treatment for longstanding chronic central serous retinopathy. Graefes Arch Clin Exp Ophthalmol. 2016;254(1):15-22. doi:10.1007/s00417-015-2989-z.U.S. National Library of Medicine.Central serous choroidopathy.American Society of Retinal Specialists.Central serous choroidopathy.
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
Porter D. American Academy of Ophthalmology.Central serous chorioretinopathy diagnosis and treatment.Caccavale A, Romanazzi F, Imparato M, et al.Low-dose aspirin as treatment for central serous chorioretinopathy. Clin Ophthalmol. 2010; 4: 899–903. doi: 10.2147/opth.s12583Hanumunthadu D, Tan ACS, Singh SR, Sahu NK, Chhablani J.Management of chronic central serous retinopathy. Indian J Ophthalmol. 2018 Dec; 66(12): 1704–1714. doi:10.4103/ijo.IJO_1077_18Avci R, Deutman AF.Treatment of central serous choroidopathy with the beta receptor blocker metoprolol (preliminary results).Klin Monbl Augenheilkd. 1993;202(3):199-205. doi:10.1055/s-2008-1045583Kurup SK, Oliver A, Emanuelli A, Hau V, Callanan D.Low-dose methotrexate for the treatment of chronic central serous retinopathy: a retrospective analysis. Retina. 012;32(10):2096-101. doi:10.1097/IAE.0b013e31825dd281.Shulman S, Goldenberg D, Schwartz R, et al.Oral rifampin treatment for longstanding chronic central serous retinopathy. Graefes Arch Clin Exp Ophthalmol. 2016;254(1):15-22. doi:10.1007/s00417-015-2989-z.U.S. National Library of Medicine.Central serous choroidopathy.American Society of Retinal Specialists.Central serous choroidopathy.
Porter D. American Academy of Ophthalmology.Central serous chorioretinopathy diagnosis and treatment.
Caccavale A, Romanazzi F, Imparato M, et al.Low-dose aspirin as treatment for central serous chorioretinopathy. Clin Ophthalmol. 2010; 4: 899–903. doi: 10.2147/opth.s12583
Hanumunthadu D, Tan ACS, Singh SR, Sahu NK, Chhablani J.Management of chronic central serous retinopathy. Indian J Ophthalmol. 2018 Dec; 66(12): 1704–1714. doi:10.4103/ijo.IJO_1077_18
Avci R, Deutman AF.Treatment of central serous choroidopathy with the beta receptor blocker metoprolol (preliminary results).Klin Monbl Augenheilkd. 1993;202(3):199-205. doi:10.1055/s-2008-1045583
Kurup SK, Oliver A, Emanuelli A, Hau V, Callanan D.Low-dose methotrexate for the treatment of chronic central serous retinopathy: a retrospective analysis. Retina. 012;32(10):2096-101. doi:10.1097/IAE.0b013e31825dd281.
Shulman S, Goldenberg D, Schwartz R, et al.Oral rifampin treatment for longstanding chronic central serous retinopathy. Graefes Arch Clin Exp Ophthalmol. 2016;254(1):15-22. doi:10.1007/s00417-015-2989-z.
U.S. National Library of Medicine.Central serous choroidopathy.
American Society of Retinal Specialists.Central serous choroidopathy.
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