Central serous chorioretinopathy (CSCR or CSR) is a retinal condition in which fluid leaks and collects under the macula, the central part of the retina, causing blurred, dim or distorted vision. Most acute episodes resolve without treatment within three to four months. For chronic or recurrent fluid, UK consultants use half-dose (or half-fluence) photodynamic therapy with verteporfin and subthreshold micropulse laser. Private assessment starts from around £250 for a consultation and OCT scan, with PDT from roughly £1,800 and micropulse laser from around £1,200.
What is central serous chorioretinopathy?
In CSCR, fluid passes from the choroid (the vascular layer behind the retina) through the retinal pigment epithelium and gathers beneath the neurosensory retina, lifting the macula like a small blister. This distorts the light-sensitive layer and affects the sharp central vision you use for reading, faces and screens.
It most often affects adults aged 30–50 and is more common in men. Recognised associations include corticosteroid use (tablets, inhalers, creams or injections), psychological stress, raised cortisol, and certain personality and sleep patterns. Identifying and reducing any steroid exposure is an important first step.
Symptoms of CSCR
- Blurred or dim central vision in one eye
- A dark or grey patch in the middle of your sight
- Distortion — straight lines appear bent or wavy (metamorphopsia)
- Objects look smaller in the affected eye (micropsia)
- Colours appear washed out or slightly dimmed
Noticing a blur or a bent-lines patch in one eye? A consultant retinal assessment with OCT can confirm CSCR quickly and rule out other macular conditions.
Book a retina assessmentCSCR treatment options
Treatment depends on whether the fluid is acute (recent) or chronic (persisting beyond three to four months or recurring). Your consultant will tailor the plan to your scans, symptoms and any steroid use.
Half-dose verteporfin PDT and subthreshold micropulse laser are both established, UK-available treatments for chronic CSCR. If scans show abnormal new vessels (a secondary complication), your consultant may discuss anti-VEGF injections. We do not recommend long-term oral medicines for CSCR, as recent UK trial evidence did not support them.
What happens during treatment
Diagnosis is based on a quick, painless OCT scan, often with additional retinal imaging to map the leak. If active treatment is needed:
- Imaging confirms the site and chronicity of the fluid and excludes other macular disease.
- For PDT, a light-sensitive dye (verteporfin) is given through a vein, then a low-energy laser is shone on the target area for around 80 seconds to seal the leaking vessels.
- For micropulse laser, very short pulses of laser energy treat the leak point without burning or scarring the retina.
- Both are outpatient procedures using numbing drops; you go home the same day.
- You avoid bright light and direct sunlight for about 48 hours after PDT because the dye makes skin and eyes temporarily light-sensitive.
Recovery and outlook
CSCR generally has a good prognosis, especially when treated before the macula is damaged by long-standing fluid. Here is the typical pattern:
First 48 hours (after PDT)
Avoid strong light and direct sun; wear sunglasses and cover skin, as verteporfin causes brief photosensitivity. Vision is unchanged at this stage.
Weeks 1–6
The sub-retinal fluid gradually reabsorbs. An OCT scan at follow-up checks the response. Distortion usually eases as fluid clears.
Months 1–3
Vision continues to recover. Most treated chronic cases show resolved or markedly reduced fluid; some need a second session.
Ongoing
CSCR can recur, so we monitor with OCT and keep steroid exposure and stress under review. A home Amsler grid helps you spot any return of distortion early.
CSCR treatment cost
Private CSCR care is priced around the assessment and the specific treatment used:
- Consultation & OCT: from around £250, including consultant retinal assessment and scans.
- Half-dose photodynamic therapy (PDT): from approximately £1,800 per session.
- Subthreshold micropulse laser: from around £1,200 per session.
- Insurance: recognised by major insurers — we can help with authorisation.
Many people with acute CSCR need only monitoring, so the right first step is an accurate diagnosis. Explore related macular conditions or browse all treatments.