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Updated: Apr 21, 2026

Retinal Pigment Epithelium Transplantation in a Non-human Primate Model for Degenerative Retinal Diseases
Published on: June 14, 2021
Retinal pigment epithelium tear in vogt-koyanagi-harada disease
F Ryan Prall1, Keith G Tokuhara, Kelly S Keefe
1From the Department of Ophthalmology, Loma Linda University, Loma Linda, California.
Purpose:
The purpose of this study was to report a case of Vogt-Koyanagi-Harada disease causing large tears of the retinal pigment epithelium (RPE).
Methods:
Case report and literature review.
Results:
A 41-year-old woman presented with headache, tinnitus, and bilateral panuveitis with multiple serous retinal detachments. She was started on oral prednisone, and the inflammation and serous detachments subsided. However, 2 weeks later, she developed large RPE tears.
Conclusion:
Vogt-Koyanagi-Harada disease is an inflammatory disorder of the choroid; however, irregularities in the RPE have been noted, most recently with the use of spectral domain ophthalmic coherence tomography. The finding of RPE tear with resolution of serous retinal detachment may further implicate involvement of the RPE in the disease process.

