Birdshot Chorioretinopathy

Abstract

Birdshot chorioretinopathy is an uncommon posterior uveitis characterized by a chronic progressive course, punctuated by exacerbations of ocular inflammation (including vitritis and hypopigmented chorioretinal lesions) and cysteroid macular edema. Patients may complain of ocular symptoms despite objectively normal visual acuity on examination. Untreated eyes of patients with birdshot may develop progressive loss of retinal function, as evidenced by worsening visual field or electroretinography testing in the absence of active inflammation, and these changes may lead to permanent loss of central visual acuity late in the disease course. Use of immunosuppressive drugs reduces episodes of intraocular inflammation and cystoid macular edema and appears to prevent loss of visual function, including central visual acuity loss over time. This chapter summarizes the clinical charactistics, natural history, treatment and monitoring of Birdshot chorioretinopathy.