The long-term course of multifocal choroiditis (presumed ocular histoplasmosis)

We studied 40 patients with the presumed ocular histoplasmosis triad for ten to 15 years. Another patient developed the choroidal features of the syndrome in previously normal eyes. The basic lesion is a nodular choroidal infiltrate that evolves from clinically and angiographically normal retina. It is initially hypofluorescent and has an overlying serous detachment. It evolves through episodes of serous detachment and hyperfluorescence into a choroidal scar with breaks in Bruch's membrane and occasional subretinal neovascularization. Seven of 42 eyes (16.6%) developed new choroidal infiltrates in choroid and retina that were clinically and angiographically normal more than ten years ago. After ten years about 50% of eyes with central scars will have visual acuity changes of 3 or more lines because of progressive remodeling and extension of the disciform scar. Nine of 40 fellow eyes (22.5%) sustained a disciform process during the entire follow-up period. One patient developed typical choroidal lesions in previously normal fundi. Results of extensive physical and laboratory tests for histoplasmosis and other diseases were normal.