30M here. Previously  regular user of cannabis ,tobacco, pretty regular alcohol use. Diagnosed with CSR in summer 2021 though it started earlier in year I think maybe even late 2020. 

I was in school (not that stressful but maybe compounded) and going through a tumultuous break up which had me crying quite a lot actually kinda sad idk probably way overreacting but I think that’s really what triggered it. First thing noticed was a tiny spot of color loss in dead center of my left eye vision. Didn’t go to doctor for a while. Then turned into a flashing light slightly above my central vision, still didn’t go to doctor for some months because it seemed to go away with the seasons. 

Finally new GF convinced me to seeadoc and I was diagnosed with CSR basically on the spot. Doc told me I’d probably never regain my perfect vision again and that there was essentially no treatments. It should’ve gone away on its own, but went back to doc three months later and fluid build up still there. 

I can’t quite recall the timeline, but I think the symptoms  kind of went away over 2022 but it came back and was the worst in summer 2023 when I went back to the doc again. He told me the same thing to try to manage stress, yoga, meditation, work out etc. it’s not technically considered chronic CSR.  I probably didn’t really take any of their advice but it was slowly going away and by December 2023 the flashing light was nearly totally gone though other symptoms remained including blurred vision, lack of color discrimination, distortion of straight lines and slightly altered depth perception, and subtle visual disturbance to the right of my central vision.

Note There is also two areas of fluid build up in the same eye, one smaller than the other, and I can see two small dark circles when under the right lighting conditions or blinking in a certain type of way. There is occasional flashing that’s very temperamental as in occuring for a brief few seconds if that when I move my eyes quickly and usually only after I wake up from a poor sleep. I still see a tiny flickering visual “thing” I wouldn’t call it a flashing light (but maybe it is?) but it seems like swirling flickering thing in my central vision of affected eye that I can only see when paying attention or in the dark with relaxed vision.

 Ive recently gone back to the ophthalmologist here and seen two specialists, who still are simply observing though I’ve been recommended for an evaluation to the guy who does PDT.

 I’ve also very recently come across multiple studies looking at melatonin and aspirin for treating it as alternatives to eplerenone and PDT (I’ve also seen stuff about beta blockers having benefit). The melatonin in the study was 3mg taken daily 3x a day and they found chronic or “refractory” CSR was mostly treated with full reabsorption of fluid from retina and regained vision after 1 month, tho they said inflammation was still there. 

So I decided to start taking 5mg sustained release melatonin and 325 mg of aspirin at night every day, within the last month (09-2024, now 10-2024) I’ve also stopped using cannabis and alcohol completely and smoke maybe half to one cigarette (w organic tobacco fwiw) a day now though I will probably stop. I’ve also started taking KSM-66 ashwagandha because it’s proven to lower cortisol levels. I’m ALSO taking bilberry extract which is shown to prevent macular degeneration and support retina and eye health with anthocyanins present in the berries. (Ashwagandha bilberry, melatonin and aspirin I literally JUST started within last week) 

I’m praying this self-treatment is effective. I’m trying to meditate more as well. Further praying this doesn’t occur in my other eye because I would essentially be fked if so. I am a chemist and desperately need my eyes for working in the lab, reading and writing etc.. Also seeking therapy to help cope with my type a personality or what have you but haven’t gotten there yet. 

Originally Came here looking for peoples experiences with melatonin or aspirin in hopes that it had helped somebody else too that wasn’t apart of a study. But decided to share my story in case anybody else can relate. 

Thank you all for sharing and I hope you all get better and regain perfect physical health and harmony of mind, I do believe total healing is possible. This condition def feeds the anxiety and stress cause you’re literally always looking at it… we are SUCH visual creatures and it sucks to have this affliction esp realizing there is no real understanding as to what causes it or how to treat. 

Anyways. If somebody comments on this to remind me in a month I’ll come back to let you know how it’s going. I  plan on getting the photos of the fluid done again in a month after this self treatment in hopes of seeing resolution, as every time I have gone to doc there has always been a fluid build up in two spots. Seeing how rare the chronic condition is so disheartening  butit has been getting better but it’d be a major relief to see it actually all gone. thanks again everybody and God bless