Use of Short-wave Blue Fundus Autofluorescence to Detect and Monitor Acute Regional Outer Retinopathy in Punctate Inner Choroidopathy

ABSTRACT

Purpose

To describe the utility of fundus autofluorescence (FAF) for detection and monitoring of acute regional outer retinopathy in punctate inner choroidopathy (PIC).

Design

Multimodal imaging case series.

Methods

Patients with PIC and acute regional hyperautofluorescence were identified. Multimodal imaging, treatment, and clinical course were reviewed.

Results

Six eyes of five patients were included (5 women, mean age 39 years, range 28–69). All endorsed new symptoms. Short-wave blue FAF revealed regional hyperautofluorescence in the symptomatic eye, corresponding to ellipsoid zone (EZ) loss on optical coherence tomography (OCT). All patients were treated with local or systemic corticosteroids or immunosuppression, with resolution of symptoms and acute imaging abnormalities.

Conclusions

Symptomatic acute regional outer retinopathy in PIC, manifesting as hyperautofluorescence and EZ loss, is easily identifiable using widefield FAF imaging. Treatment resulted in resolution of symptoms and imaging findings in our cohort, and should be considered in this patient population.

KEYWORDS:

• Fundus autofluorescence
• punctate inner choroidopathy
• acute regional outer retinopathy
• ellipsoid zone
• treatment

Declaration of interest

The authors report no conflicts of interest.

Additional information

Funding

JAL was supported by NIH grant K08 EY030923.