Advanced eye scan technology visualizing retinal blood vessels.

Decoding CSC: How Advanced Eye Scans Could Save Your Vision

Theo Raines in Health & Wellness November 2025 • 4 min read.

"New breakthroughs in eye-scanning technology are offering hope for earlier detection and targeted treatment of Central Serous Chorioretinopathy."

Central Serous Chorioretinopathy, or CSC, is a common condition that can lead to blurred vision and visual distortion, particularly affecting young men. It occurs when fluid builds up under the retina, causing a detachment that impacts central vision. Traditionally, doctors diagnose CSC through fluorescein angiography (FA), which involves injecting a dye into the bloodstream to visualize leakage in the retinal pigment epithelium (RPE).

While FA is effective, newer technologies offer non-invasive alternatives that provide detailed images of the retinal and choroidal vasculature. One such advancement is optical coherence tomography angiography (OCTA), which uses light waves to create high-resolution, three-dimensional images of blood vessels in the eye. Swept-source OCT angiography (SS-OCTA) is a particularly promising type of OCTA because it penetrates deeper into the choroid, potentially revealing critical details that FA might miss.

Researchers have been exploring the capabilities of SS-OCTA in diagnosing and managing CSC, with the goal of identifying leakage spots, detecting choroidal neovascularization (CNV), and monitoring treatment outcomes. The purpose of this article is to simplify and explain how this technology is changing the landscape of CSC management, offering a more precise and less invasive way to protect your vision.

SS-OCTA: A New Era in CSC Diagnosis

Advanced eye scan technology visualizing retinal blood vessels.

Traditional methods, while useful, sometimes fall short in providing a complete picture of CSC. Fluorescein angiography, for example, relies on dye injection, which can be invasive. SS-OCTA, on the other hand, offers a non-invasive approach, capturing detailed images of the choroid and retinal vessels without the need for injections. This is especially valuable for patients who may be hesitant about invasive procedures or have contraindications to dye injections.

One of the key benefits of SS-OCTA is its ability to visualize the leakage spot, which is a hallmark of CSC. In many cases, the leakage site identified on FA corresponds to a highly hyporeflective area on SS-OCTA images. This allows doctors to pinpoint the exact location of the fluid leakage with greater precision. Furthermore, SS-OCTA can reveal thickened vessels at the level of the choriocapillaris, providing additional insights into the underlying pathology of CSC.

Non-invasive: No injections required, reducing patient discomfort.
Detailed visualization: Provides high-resolution images of retinal and choroidal vessels.
Precise localization: Helps pinpoint the leakage spot with greater accuracy.
Early detection: Aids in identifying subtle vascular changes indicative of CSC.

SS-OCTA also plays a crucial role in detecting choroidal neovascularization (CNV), a serious complication of CSC. CNV occurs when abnormal blood vessels grow beneath the retina, potentially leading to vision loss. Diagnosing CNV in the presence of CSC can be challenging because the pooling of dye on FA may obscure the pathological neovessels. SS-OCTA can overcome this limitation by clearly visualizing the neovascular network, enabling timely intervention and treatment.

The Future of CSC Treatment

Swept-source OCT angiography is a valuable diagnostic tool that complements traditional methods like fluorescein angiography. It enhances our ability to detect and manage Central Serous Chorioretinopathy, offering a non-invasive, detailed view of the retinal and choroidal vasculature. By providing a clearer picture of the leakage spot, detecting CNV, and monitoring treatment outcomes, SS-OCTA is paving the way for more targeted and effective interventions, ultimately helping to preserve and protect your vision.

About this Article -

This article was crafted using a human-AI hybrid and collaborative approach. AI assisted our team with initial drafting, research insights, identifying key questions, and image generation. Our human editors guided topic selection, defined the angle, structured the content, ensured factual accuracy and relevance, refined the tone, and conducted thorough editing to deliver helpful, high-quality information.See our About page for more information.

This article is based on research published under:

DOI-LINK: 10.1177/2474126418794578, Alternate LINK

Title: Swept-Source Optical Coherence Tomography Angiography In Central Serous Chorioretinopathy

Subject: General Medicine

Journal: Journal of VitreoRetinal Diseases

Publisher: SAGE Publications

Authors: Zofia Michalewska, Jerzy Nawrocki

Published: 2018-09-25

Everything You Need To Know

What exactly is Central Serous Chorioretinopathy (CSC), and how is it typically diagnosed?

Central Serous Chorioretinopathy (CSC) is a condition where fluid accumulates under the retina, leading to blurred vision and visual distortions. This primarily affects central vision and is often diagnosed using methods like fluorescein angiography. Newer technologies like swept-source OCT angiography offer non-invasive alternatives for detailed imaging.

How does swept-source OCT angiography (SS-OCTA) improve upon traditional diagnostic methods like fluorescein angiography (FA) for Central Serous Chorioretinopathy (CSC)?

Swept-source OCT angiography (SS-OCTA) is an advancement over traditional fluorescein angiography (FA) because it is non-invasive, meaning it doesn't require injecting dye into the bloodstream. SS-OCTA uses light waves to create high-resolution, three-dimensional images of blood vessels in the eye, and it penetrates deeper into the choroid, revealing details that FA might miss. This makes it valuable for patients hesitant about invasive procedures.

How does SS-OCTA assist in the early detection of complications like choroidal neovascularization (CNV) in patients with Central Serous Chorioretinopathy (CSC)?

SS-OCTA helps in detecting choroidal neovascularization (CNV), a complication of Central Serous Chorioretinopathy, by clearly visualizing the neovascular network. Diagnosing CNV with traditional fluorescein angiography (FA) can be challenging because the dye pooling may obscure the pathological neovessels. Early detection of CNV through SS-OCTA enables timely treatment, preventing potential vision loss.

In what specific ways does swept-source OCT angiography (SS-OCTA) enhance the overall management and detection of Central Serous Chorioretinopathy (CSC)?

Swept-source OCT angiography (SS-OCTA) enhances the ability to detect and manage Central Serous Chorioretinopathy (CSC) by offering a non-invasive, detailed view of the retinal and choroidal vasculature. It helps pinpoint the exact location of fluid leakage, reveals thickened vessels, and aids in identifying subtle vascular changes. This comprehensive view paves the way for more targeted and effective interventions, ultimately helping to preserve vision. While SS-OCTA is effective, it is used with existing tools like fluorescein angiography.

Beyond diagnosis, how can Swept-source OCT angiography (SS-OCTA) be utilized in managing and improving Central Serous Chorioretinopathy (CSC) patient outcomes?

While the focus is on using Swept-source OCT angiography (SS-OCTA) to visualize the leakage and neovascularization to treat Central Serous Chorioretinopathy(CSC), it is important to note that the technology also allows doctors to monitor the outcomes of different treatments. The detailed images provided by SS-OCTA can reveal whether a particular intervention is effectively reducing fluid leakage or stabilizing abnormal blood vessels, allowing for adjustments to the treatment plan as needed and personalized management strategies.