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Acetazolamide speeds central serous recovery, study finds
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HADERA, Israel — Treatment with acetazolamide speeds both subjective and objective resolution of central serous retinopathy, according to a study conducted here. The drug, however, had no effect on final visual acuity or rate of disease recurrence.
Joseph Pikkel, MD, and colleagues treated 15 CSR patients with acetazolamide and compared them to a control group of seven patients. Follow-up was performed out to 24 months.
According to the study, there was no statistically significant difference in initial or final visual acuity between the groups and no significant difference in incidence of retinal pigment epithelium changes.
The mean time until subjective improvement in visual acuity was 14.7 ± 5.7 days for the acetazolamide group and 31.3 ± 4.5 days for the control group (P < .0001).The mean time until full clinical resolution was 3.3 ± 1.1 weeks for the acetazolamide group and 7.7 ± 1.5 weeks for the control group (P < .0001).
No statistically significant difference was seen in recurrence rates between the groups. The medication group exhibited some side effects from the medication, including paresthesias, nervousness and gastric upset.
The authors of the study, published in the September issue of Ophthalmology, said treatment with acetazolamide may be considered for patients who require accelerated resolution of CSR.