Crocin supplementation in central serous chorioretinopathy: a pilot randomized double-blind trial
Mohammadkarim Johari1 , Alireza Attar1 , Mojtaba Heydari1 *
- Poostchi Ophthalmology Research Center, Department of Ophthalmology, School of Medicine, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran
Abstract: Central serous chorioretinopathy (CSCR) is a condition that can impair vision due to serous retinal detachment. Crocin, a carotenoid derived from saffron, has demonstrated antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects in various retinal diseases, but its potential role in managing CSCR is not well-documented.
Methods: This pilot randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial included 40 patients with CSCR who were randomly assigned to receive crocin (n=20) or placebo (n=20) for eight weeks. Visual acuity, anatomical parameters assessed via optical coherence tomography (OCT), and adverse events were recorded at baseline and post-intervention.
Results: Baseline characteristics, including age, weight, body mass index, and gender distribution, were comparable between groups (p > 0.05 for all). The crocin group showed a significantly greater improvement in mean Early Treatment Diabetic Retinopathy Study (ETDRS) letter score compared to the placebo group (4.27 ± 3.63 vs. 0.57 ± 7.23, p = 0.024). Additionally, 20%, 40%, and 80% of crocin-treated patients achieved gains of 10, 5, and 1 ETDRS letters, respectively, versus 7%, 21%, and 29% in the placebo group (p = 0.316, p = 0.280, and p = 0.005, respectively). Although the crocin group exhibited greater reductions in subretinal fluid height, central macular thickness, and choroidal thickness, these differences were not statistically significant (p > 0.05). No adverse events related to the interventions were reported in either group.
Conclusion: This pilot study suggests that crocin supplementation may enhance visual acuity in patients with CSCR. However, the lack of statistically significant differences in anatomical outcomes highlights the need for larger trials to confirm these findings.
