Central Serous Retinopathy
Nunc est bibendum
Thread Starter
Central Serous Retinopathy
I've been going through this for the second time now and wanted to bring it back to people's attention as most threads are a few years old.
It's quite prevalent in pilots because apparently we get stressed. I'm pretty laid back so was quite surprised when my doc told me this. Then I appraised my life and realised that buying a house, starting a small business, working hard at the gym and a few other things probably meant that I was working too hard. That was in 2005.
Now I've been off flying for five months. I had Photo Dynamic Therapy (PDT) after four months but I got the shock of my life when my eyesight didn't return to completely what it was before. Prior to getting it again I was corrected to 6/5. Now, seven weeks after PDT I can just 6/9 and the prognosis is that it won't improve beyond that. I find out in the next few days if a new prescription will sort it out; or whether there is either another seperate leak that they didn't find the first time; or whether this is farewell to the aviation game!
PDT is photodynamic therapy. Light reactive dye into the blood and a 'cold' laser on the leak. It's supposedly much better than a hot laser in that there is not other tissue damaged and significantly reduced risk of a blind spot. Painless apart from having a lens on your eyeball for 83 seconds or however long it is.
This is one of the better web sites I've found on both CSR and PDT.
http://www.eyesurgeonsofindiana.com/central_serous.htm
Hope none of you have to deal with it but enjoy the time off with your family if you do! It's been a wonderful 'holiday' apart from the stress of not knowing if I'll go back to work.
I did find it ironic when the doc told me to relax and take it easy and enjoy life and my response was 'you tell me I can't do my job, can't fly, can't earn my normal wage but you want me to relax and not stress?' 
It's quite prevalent in pilots because apparently we get stressed. I'm pretty laid back so was quite surprised when my doc told me this. Then I appraised my life and realised that buying a house, starting a small business, working hard at the gym and a few other things probably meant that I was working too hard. That was in 2005.
Now I've been off flying for five months. I had Photo Dynamic Therapy (PDT) after four months but I got the shock of my life when my eyesight didn't return to completely what it was before. Prior to getting it again I was corrected to 6/5. Now, seven weeks after PDT I can just 6/9 and the prognosis is that it won't improve beyond that. I find out in the next few days if a new prescription will sort it out; or whether there is either another seperate leak that they didn't find the first time; or whether this is farewell to the aviation game!
PDT is photodynamic therapy. Light reactive dye into the blood and a 'cold' laser on the leak. It's supposedly much better than a hot laser in that there is not other tissue damaged and significantly reduced risk of a blind spot. Painless apart from having a lens on your eyeball for 83 seconds or however long it is.
This is one of the better web sites I've found on both CSR and PDT.
http://www.eyesurgeonsofindiana.com/central_serous.htm
Hope none of you have to deal with it but enjoy the time off with your family if you do! It's been a wonderful 'holiday' apart from the stress of not knowing if I'll go back to work.
I did find it ironic when the doc told me to relax and take it easy and enjoy life and my response was 'you tell me I can't do my job, can't fly, can't earn my normal wage but you want me to relax and not stress?'
Join Date: Sep 2007
Location: Cheshire
Age: 78
Posts: 506
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Central Serous Chorioretinopathy
A thread was started yesterday on this topic, which could be of great importance and interest to pilots. Although it is generally self-limiting and unlikely to be of great harm in the longer term, it would certainly be very worrying to most people in a profession to whom eyes and vision are so very important.
The thread mysteriously disappeared, but just in case anyone else was concerned or interested a very useful description of the condition, and its treatment and prognosis, can be found here :
http://www.vrmny.com/pe/csc.html
Hope this is helpful.
The thread mysteriously disappeared, but just in case anyone else was concerned or interested a very useful description of the condition, and its treatment and prognosis, can be found here :
http://www.vrmny.com/pe/csc.html
Hope this is helpful.
Join Date: Sep 2007
Location: Cheshire
Age: 78
Posts: 506
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
apologies . . . . . . . .
Thank you for that explanation, Ma'am.
I didn't realise it was even possible to delete a whole thread !
Sorry if my wording caused any problem !
I didn't realise it was even possible to delete a whole thread !
Sorry if my wording caused any problem !
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: USA
Posts: 9
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Eye Problem: Central serous retinopathy (CSR) Dark shadow in center of vision
Sorry to start a separate thread on this, but I was reading the "Vision (Other than color)" thread and it was already 26 pages long and ventured into every imaginable ailment but this one, which could be career ending.
Do you have an area of darkness in the center of your vision?
Is it in just one eye, or both?
Unlike "floaters" does this shadowed area not momentarily disappear when you glance away?
When you close your eyes, is the shadowy area highlighted by a perfect circle of pink or blue "Neon-effect"?
Is it worse in dark conditions?
Does the shadowy area create "walleye vision" (in other words a ballooning effect where it may appear when you are watching TV that Jay Leno has a huge head, but the rest of his body is normal)?
If you answered yes to most of these questions you may have CRS, or Central Serous Retinopathy. It's a problem where fluid has leaked in behind your retinal wall and formed a blister, darkening and distorting your central vision. I have a minor case of this problem and was wondering if anyone else has it. It's only in one eye. If I were to hold an orange in my hand and hold my hand straight out with the orange in it, the area effected covers the size of the orange in my vision.
Do you have an area of darkness in the center of your vision?
Is it in just one eye, or both?
Unlike "floaters" does this shadowed area not momentarily disappear when you glance away?
When you close your eyes, is the shadowy area highlighted by a perfect circle of pink or blue "Neon-effect"?
Is it worse in dark conditions?
Does the shadowy area create "walleye vision" (in other words a ballooning effect where it may appear when you are watching TV that Jay Leno has a huge head, but the rest of his body is normal)?
If you answered yes to most of these questions you may have CRS, or Central Serous Retinopathy. It's a problem where fluid has leaked in behind your retinal wall and formed a blister, darkening and distorting your central vision. I have a minor case of this problem and was wondering if anyone else has it. It's only in one eye. If I were to hold an orange in my hand and hold my hand straight out with the orange in it, the area effected covers the size of the orange in my vision.
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: USA
Posts: 9
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Keg:
Thanks for responding. Oh... I see, I'm responding to your thread. Got it. Thanks Moderatrix. This helps keep it all in one place. So Keg, you're getting the light therapy? I had read about this and was wondering how anyone getting the therapy had done with it. Apparently you are getting mixed results. I was all excited to hear about the treatment until I read the part where it says it will only arrest further development of the syndrome. I found the link you....well....linked a few years back. I still pass an FAA medical examiner's 1st class exam with glasses. Whereas the glasses help with what must have been a preexisting condition of simply "aging eyes", they're really ineffective for the most part against the CSR in my right eye. I could live with it the rest of my life if it didn't get any worse, but, it could always get worse. How bad was yours? I'm not sure I understand the whole 5/7 or 4/6 thing. If you held a spherical object in your out stretched hand, how big would the object have been? Softball? Prune? Soccer ball?
It's interesting you should bring up the stress-load you had when you got CSR. I too was loaded. Went back to college, flight training, working and going to the gym 5 times a week for an hour and a half all at the same time. Plus I am a total type-A personality. I had really started squatting heavy weights with my buddy and think there is a direct link to heavy legs work outs and CSR.
Thanks for responding. Oh... I see, I'm responding to your thread. Got it. Thanks Moderatrix. This helps keep it all in one place. So Keg, you're getting the light therapy? I had read about this and was wondering how anyone getting the therapy had done with it. Apparently you are getting mixed results. I was all excited to hear about the treatment until I read the part where it says it will only arrest further development of the syndrome. I found the link you....well....linked a few years back. I still pass an FAA medical examiner's 1st class exam with glasses. Whereas the glasses help with what must have been a preexisting condition of simply "aging eyes", they're really ineffective for the most part against the CSR in my right eye. I could live with it the rest of my life if it didn't get any worse, but, it could always get worse. How bad was yours? I'm not sure I understand the whole 5/7 or 4/6 thing. If you held a spherical object in your out stretched hand, how big would the object have been? Softball? Prune? Soccer ball?
It's interesting you should bring up the stress-load you had when you got CSR. I too was loaded. Went back to college, flight training, working and going to the gym 5 times a week for an hour and a half all at the same time. Plus I am a total type-A personality. I had really started squatting heavy weights with my buddy and think there is a direct link to heavy legs work outs and CSR.
Last edited by Badgeman; 24th Jul 2008 at 18:01.
Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: Australia
Age: 58
Posts: 423
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Also a link to cortisosteriod use and CSR. Steriods can be prescribed or purchased over-the-couter as an aid to releav inflamation, back pain, rashed etc. If you suffer CSR, it is a very good idea to inform you doctor if he/she is precribing such medication.
Join Date: Mar 2006
Location: Oxon
Age: 61
Posts: 86
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I was diagnosed with this 5 years ago and was grounded for 6 months. Symtoms returned 2 weeks ago as many sufferers find and I have just been diagnosed I have it again. 48 yrs old, chasing all the usual ticks every month and running a section. Civvy optometrist said she has only seen one case in 2 years but obviously a lot more common amongst visitors to this site. 
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: wishing to be in YPCC but stuck near EGSS
Age: 75
Posts: 16
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I was diagnosed with CSR about 7 years ago at Moorfields Eye Hospital in London, I was told by the doctor that first saw me that the condition is most prevalent in Caucasian males in their 40's to 60's, particularly if they are under stress.
I was not given any treatment, but monitored for 2 years at intervals. I was told that any treatment could leave small blind spots on the retina and would only be undertaken if the condition got worse (which fortunately it didn't). Computer images were taken of both retinas and stored for comparison on each check up, fascinating to see a map of my retina on a 17 inch screen!
My job at the time required me to drive, and as my eyesight was within driving limits they felt no action was the best option. I enquired about continuing my hobby of scuba diving and was told that pressure variations would not be a problem, perhaps a bit of good news here for flyers?
I only found I had the condition when I was putting in a contact lens in my dominant eye and happened to look through the other eye at the cornice around the room and noticed a kink in the straight line like a hump in the road. I now check every so often by covering each eye in turn and looking at a sheet of graph paper.
As an aside (or snide if you like) sitting for 4 hours in the emergency queue at Moorfields convinced me that laser surgery for eyesight correction was not a good idea because of the number of people in the queue with extremely painful infections and other problems following elective surgery.
I was not given any treatment, but monitored for 2 years at intervals. I was told that any treatment could leave small blind spots on the retina and would only be undertaken if the condition got worse (which fortunately it didn't). Computer images were taken of both retinas and stored for comparison on each check up, fascinating to see a map of my retina on a 17 inch screen!
My job at the time required me to drive, and as my eyesight was within driving limits they felt no action was the best option. I enquired about continuing my hobby of scuba diving and was told that pressure variations would not be a problem, perhaps a bit of good news here for flyers?
I only found I had the condition when I was putting in a contact lens in my dominant eye and happened to look through the other eye at the cornice around the room and noticed a kink in the straight line like a hump in the road. I now check every so often by covering each eye in turn and looking at a sheet of graph paper.
As an aside (or snide if you like) sitting for 4 hours in the emergency queue at Moorfields convinced me that laser surgery for eyesight correction was not a good idea because of the number of people in the queue with extremely painful infections and other problems following elective surgery.
Join Date: Apr 2011
Location: London, UK
Posts: 1
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I've just been diagnosed with CSR also at Moorfields Eye Hospital.
I work in IT and I also scuba dive. I think I fit in the "Type A" personality group. I'm a 28 year old male of Asian heritage. Although I've lived most of my life in Australia.
It's odd because I wasn't all that stressed when I first noticed symptoms or even the week leading up to it. I've certainly been alot more stressed previously without any health issues.
And yes I did stress a bit when the doctor said that I should avoid diving while I had this condition. I had a bit of a discussion with her and questioned why I should avoid diving. She said that there was no research and it was just a precaution. She must have sensed my distress and said she would consult with a colleague. She came back to say that if scuba diving was causing stress then I should avoid it. If not it should be fine.
Ironically I use scuba diving to relieve stress.
Let's just hope it's not the cause of the condition.
I have read other articles which indicate that pilots seem to have higher incidence of CSR.
I wonder if pressure changes is a factor as I do dive on a regular basis. Although the pressure change I receive is an increase in pressure where as you guys get a decrease.
I work in IT and I also scuba dive. I think I fit in the "Type A" personality group. I'm a 28 year old male of Asian heritage. Although I've lived most of my life in Australia.
It's odd because I wasn't all that stressed when I first noticed symptoms or even the week leading up to it. I've certainly been alot more stressed previously without any health issues.
And yes I did stress a bit when the doctor said that I should avoid diving while I had this condition. I had a bit of a discussion with her and questioned why I should avoid diving. She said that there was no research and it was just a precaution. She must have sensed my distress and said she would consult with a colleague. She came back to say that if scuba diving was causing stress then I should avoid it. If not it should be fine.
Ironically I use scuba diving to relieve stress.
Let's just hope it's not the cause of the condition.
I have read other articles which indicate that pilots seem to have higher incidence of CSR.
I wonder if pressure changes is a factor as I do dive on a regular basis. Although the pressure change I receive is an increase in pressure where as you guys get a decrease.
Join Date: Apr 2017
Location: quebec
Posts: 1
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
csr
Hello, I want to say to all those who are caught with this problem, that I managed to make the edema leave with naproxen (quebec) or aleve (usa).
For a year and a half I had 10 appearances, a few times in both eyes at the same time and not a lot of improvement and my ophtamo told me that I should live with but 6 months ago I started with Aspirin 81mg / day and my condition improved from week to week but with naproxen (500 mg, 2 / day, one at 12 pm) 3 or 4 days and everything disappears.
Caution naproxen may irritate the stomach, think about taking a protector (pentoprazole kind).
For a year and a half I had 10 appearances, a few times in both eyes at the same time and not a lot of improvement and my ophtamo told me that I should live with but 6 months ago I started with Aspirin 81mg / day and my condition improved from week to week but with naproxen (500 mg, 2 / day, one at 12 pm) 3 or 4 days and everything disappears.
Caution naproxen may irritate the stomach, think about taking a protector (pentoprazole kind).
