Central serous chorioretinopathy after ocular trauma in the fellow eye during a water-polo game

Abstract

A 35-year-old water polo player was struck in his right eye during a water polo game. At presentation to our hospital, his visual acuity, intraocular pressure, fundus examination and neurological examination were normal. He received the appropriate treatment (no corticosteroids were applied), but 1 week later he reported blurred vision in his left eye. Visual acuity in the left eye was 6/ 10 Snellen chart, fluorescein angiography showed a focal retinal pigment epithelium leakage, while optical coherence tomography through the macula revealed mild neurosensory retinal detachment with an increase in retinal thickness. Two weeks later, the situation improved, and 1 month later no signs or symptoms of central serous chorioretinopathy were present. Currently, 9 months later, the situation remains unchanged. Posttraumatic stress was recognised as the key factor for development of central serous chorioretinopathy in our patient, since it was followed by excessive release of catecholamines and increased endogenous cortisol levels.