Purpose: Multiple, dot-like, yellow precipitates and subretinal yellow material are sometimes deposited within the area of a serous retinal detachment in central serous chorioretinopathy. We report the incidence and clinical features of these depositions in central serous chorioretinopathy.
Methods: Eighty eyes of 75 patients (average age, 50.2 years) with central serous chorioretinopathy were studied retrospectively. Fundus autofluorescence and optical coherence tomography findings were evaluated. Precipitates were defined as those ≤ 63 μm in diameter and subretinal yellow material >63 μm.
Results: The mean follow-up period was 17.6 months. Forty-five eyes (56.3%) had dot-like precipitates, and 40 eyes (50.0%) had subretinal yellow material. Fifty-two of 80 eyes (65.0%) had both or at least one of them; of these 52 eyes, 50 eyes (96.2%) had hyperautofluorescence and 42 eyes (80.8%) had high reflectivity on optical coherence tomography. The depositions in 23 eyes were not hyperautofluorescent at the initial examination, but the hyperautofluorescence developed during the follow-up period.
Conclusion: Dot-like precipitates and subretinal yellow material were seen in 65% of cases with central serous chorioretinopathy that also showed high reflectivity on optical coherence tomography and hyperautofluorescence during follow-up. These findings may indicate that these formations are associated with shedding of the photoreceptor outer segments and metabolism by phagocytes.