Central Serous Chorioretinopathy Diagnosed by Emergency Practitioner-Performed Ocular Point-Of-Care Ultrasonography

Abstract

Introduction

Central serous chorioretinopathy (CSCR) is a common cause of acute, monocular vision loss amongst men aged 40–50 years. Diagnosis is typically multimodal, requiring advanced ophthalmic imaging. These techniques are not readily available in acute care settings.

Methods

We report the first case of CSCR diagnosed by an emergency practitioner–performed ocular point-of-care ultrasonography (POCUS).

Results

CSCR was identified by the presence of a dome-shaped, hypoechoic elevation of the neurosensory retina in association with a hypoechoic band posterior to the retinal pigment epithelium. The diagnosis was confirmed following ophthalmic referral. The patient was managed conservatively with routine observation and risk factor modification.

Conclusion

We describe the first reported use of emergency practitioner-performed ocular POCUS to identify findings suggestive of CSCR, a common cause of acute monocular vision loss among working-aged men. Although this case demonstrates the evolving utility of ocular ultrasound in emergent eye presentations, further research is needed to define the technique's role in the early evaluation of CSCR.