Clinical Features of Punctate Inner Choroidopathy in Korea

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE: To characterize the clinical presentation and visual prognosis of punctate inner choroidopathy in Korean patients. METHODS: Eleven patients (seventeen eyes) with punctate inner choroidopathy (PIC) and four (six eyes) with multifocal choroiditis with panuveitis (MCP) were analyzed retrospectively. RESULTS: The mean age of the PIC patients was 32.2 +/- 9.3 years and the mean refractive error was -4.79 +/- 3.18 diopters. In all PIC eyes, fundus photographs showed multiple yellowish white punctate lesions and punched-out scars at the level of the inner retina and choroid. There was no significant difference between the mean initial visual acuity (0.67 +/- 0.40) and the mean final visual acuity (0.56 +/- 0.41). The major cause of visual deterioration was choroidal neovascularization (CNV) which developed in 4 eyes. In PIC, the lesions were located in the more posterior retina and the incidence of CNV was higher than in MCP. CONCLUSIONS: PIC affects young women with moderate myopia and shows the characteristic chorioretinal lesion. Although the eye with PIC usually maintains stable vision after initial attack, CNV may cause complications and significant visual loss.