Headache and Bilateral Optic Disc Edema as the Initial Manifestation of Vogt-Koyanagi-Harada Disease

A 31-year-old healthy Asian man presented with new headaches and blurred vision. He was found to have bilateral optic disc edema (ODE) and peripapillary subretinal fluid and was initially investigated for causes of raised intracranial pressure. After referral to neuro-ophthalmology, he received a diagnosis of Vogt-Koyanagi-Harada (VKH) disease and his symptoms, ODE, and vision improved promptly with prednisone treatment. HLA typing was performed and returned positive for the HLA-DRB1*04 subtype. Although VKH disease usually presents with granulomatous uveitis or serous retinal detachments, ODE may manifest early in the disease course. Those with ODE in VKH disease are believed to be older and female, but this case demonstrates that these findings were also seen in a young man.