Near-infrared autofluorescence and indocyanine green angiography in central serous chorioretinopathy.

Purpose: To evaluate the diagnostic potential of near-infrared (NIR) autofluorescence (AF) in central serous chorioretinopathy (CSC) and to present a method to analyze NIR-AF findings quantitatively.

Procedures: NIR-AF images, indocyanine green (ICG) angiograms, blue-light autofluorescence (BL-AF) images and fluorescein angiograms were recorded with the use of a confocal scanning laser ophthalmoscope in 19 eyes of 17 patients with CSC. Gray-value ratios were calculated to compare the methods.

Results: Using NIR-AF, hypofluorescent spots were observed at the leakage site in 18 of 19 eyes (94.7%). The mean gray-value ratio (±SD) was 0.55 ± 0.22 for the site of the leakage point with NIR-AF and 0.65 ± 0.35 with BL-AF. ICG angiography showed a gray-value ratio of 2.37 ± 2.07. Fluorescein angiography had the best contrast, with a gray-value ratio of 13.44 ± 15.02.

Conclusion: NIR-AF demonstrated CSC in 94.7% of the cases. NIR-AF may be a noninvasive alternative to detect CSC.