Birdshot chorioretinopathy
Overview
Birdshot chorioretinopathy, also called birdshot retinochoroidopathy, is a rare form of bilateral posterior uveitis affecting the eye. It causes severe, progressive inflammation of both the choroid and retina. Affected individuals are usually diagnosed around age 45, a common age of onset
Symptoms
Symptoms of this disorder include: abundant floaters, uveitis, chorioretinitis, retinitis, papillitis, retinal vasculitis, vitreous inflammation, macular edema, "flashing" lights in eyes, nyctalopia, loss of color vision, and small light-colored spots on the retina. Complete loss of visual acuity is the common prognosis. The name of the condition comes from the small light-colored fundus spots on the retina, scattered in a pattern like birdshot from a shotgun, but these spots might not be present in early stages
Treatment
Birdshot chorioretinopathy is quite resistant to treatment. Immunosuppressant therapy with corticosteroid-sparing drugs has been somewhat effective in slowing down the progressive inflammation associated with the disorder, preserving visual intregrity as much as possible. Long-term use of such medications must be closely monitored, however, due to the discomforting, and potentially debilitating and life-threatening side-effects