APR 21, 2014
This is the first study known to show a correlation between impaired choroidal circulation and acute zonal occult outer retinopathy pathogenesis.
The authors used laser speckle flowgraphy to retrospectively analyze quantitative changes in choroidal circulation in 11 patients with acute zonal occult outer retinopathy, some of whom were on systemic corticosteroids. Six eyes with thyroid-associated ophthalmopathy receiving corticosteroid therapy served as controls.
At 24 weeks, choroidal blood flow velocity at the affected area was significantly increased in corticosteroid-treated patients, and this increase was accompanied by improved visual function.
They write that the mechanism underlying the disturbance of choroidal circulation in eyes with acute zonal occult outer retinopathy in this study remains largely unknown. Nevertheless, these results suggest that impaired choroidal circulation is involved in the pathogenesis of acute zonal occult outer retinopathy.