Acute zonal occult outer retinopathy in patients with multiple evanescent white dot syndrome.

OBJECTIVE: To describe cases of acute zonal occult outer retinopathy (AZOOR) in patients previously diagnosed as having multiple evanescent white dot syndrome (MEWDS).

METHODS: In a retrospective case series, we studied fundus photographs, fundus autofluorescence images, optical coherence tomographic scans, fluorescein and indocyanine green angiograms, visual fields, and results of electroretinography.

RESULTS: Three patients diagnosed as having MEWDS developed clinical, angiographic, autofluorescence, visual field, and/or electrophysiologic evidence of AZOOR. Spectral domain optical coherence tomographic findings disclosed attenuation of the photoreceptor inner segment-outer segment junction in areas of AZOOR involvement. In 1 patient, hyperautofluorescence on fundus autofluorescence images during the MEWDS episode coincided with the area of involvement of AZOOR.

CONCLUSIONS: Development of AZOOR may occur in patients with MEWDS, suggesting that the conditions may share a common genetic susceptibility and/or pathogenetic factor. Although the typical visual prognosis after MEWDS is excellent, subsequent diagnosis of AZOOR may portend a worse outcome.