pachychoroid diseases of the retina

Introduction

refers to a group of eye conditions affecting the macula and choroid (the middle layer of the eye).
it is defined by a thickened choroid, dilated outer choroidal blood vessels called pachyvessels, and thinning (attenuation) of the inner choriocapillaris layer, which can lead to vision loss
progression to parychoroid neovasculopathy develops in only a small percentage of patients with these conditions in the 1st 2 years

“Type A” personality
emotional stress
pregnancy
tobacco use
corticosteroids
sympathomimetics
hypertension
gastro-oesophageal reflux
alcohol
systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE)
organ transplantation
membranoproliferative glomerulonephritis type II
MDMA
some medications are associated
certain herbal supplements may also have glycogenic properties associated with pachychoroid development

Pachychoroid Pigment Epitheliopathy (PPE): RPE changes over pachyvessels without fluid leakage.
Central Serous Chorioretinopathy (CSC): Accumulation of subretinal fluid causing localized serous retinal detachment.
Pachychoroid Neovasculopathy (PNV): Growth of abnormal new blood vessels (type 1 choroidal neovascularization).
Polypoidal Choroidal Vasculopathy (PCV): Presence of polyp-like terminal vascular lesions.
Focal Choroidal Excavation (FCE): A localized conforming depression or dip in the choroid.
Peripapillary Pachychoroid Syndrome (PPS): Choroidal thickening clustered around the optic nerve head