Spectral domain optical coherence tomographic findings at convalescent stage of acute zonal occult outer retinopathy

To describe the morphology of the retina at the convalescent stage of acute zonal occult outer retinopathy (AZOOR) from images obtained by spectral domain optical coherence tomography (SD-OCT).

The visual fields, electroretinograms (ERGs), and OCT images were reviewed in two women aged 24 and 33 years. The patients were followed for one and four years, respectively.

In both cases, the anterior and posterior segments were almost normal, although both patients had a sudden unilateral vision decrease and photopsia. Goldmann perimetry revealed enlarged blind spots and scotomas. The ERGs were reduced in both cases. SD-OCT showed that the junction of the inner and outer segment, the IS/OS line, of the photoreceptors was irregular or lost in the affected retinas. The retina in these areas was thinner due to a decrease in the thickness of both the outer nuclear layer (ONL) and inner nuclear layer (INL) in Case 2.

The decrease in retinal thickness at the convalescent stage of AZOOR is most likely due to a shortening of not only the photoreceptors and ONL but also to a thinning of the INL in a severe case.