OCT findings in birdshot chorioretinitis: a glimpse into retinal disease evolution.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE Birdshot chorioretinitis is a rare disease independently involving the retina and the choroid. Retinal involvement has deleterious functional consequences. This study aimed to follow retinal profiles in early (< 1 year, untreated), intermediate (1 to 6 years, receiving therapy), and late (> 6 years) birdshot chorioretinitis. PATIENTS AND METHODS Optical coherence tomography images were retrospectively evaluated in 28 eyes and retinal thickness was calculated in the foveola, parafoveal nasal, and temporal area; nasal and temporal mid-peripheral macula; and nasal and temporal periphery of the macula. RESULTS Retinal thickness was significantly elevated in early birdshot chorioretinitis because of diffuse exudative retinal vasculopathy. In late disease, retinal thickness was significantly thinned at all measured locations compared with early disease. Epiretinal membrane development was observed in 92% of eyes with late birdshot chorioretinitis. CONCLUSION The retina is thickened and exudative in early birdshot chorioretinitis, thickness diminishes during intermediate birdshot chorioretinitis, and retinal thinning/atrophy with a high rate of epiretinal membrane is observed in late birdshot chorioretinitis.