A Case of Focal Laser Photocoagulation Added to Systemic Immunomodulatory Therapy for Bilateral Lupus Chorioretinopathy

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE: To report a patient diagnosed with bilateral lupus chorioretinopathy who received focal laser photocoagulation. CASE SUMMARY: A 20-year-old female presented with decreased vision in her left eye. She had been treated with systemic corticosteroids, immunosuppressants, plasmapheresis and hemodialysis during systemic lupus erythematosus flare-up. Retinal hemorrhage and cotton wool spots were observed in both eyes on funduscopic examination. Optical coherence tomography showed bilateral serous retinal detachment. Flurorescein angiography (FA) revealed multiple leakages of dye in both maculae. Despite improvements of the systemic disease, subretinal fluid was not resolved. Focal laser photocoagulation was applied to multiple leakage spots identified on FA in both eyes and serous detachment improved. After several months, additional focal laser photocoagulation was performed because there was a small amount of subretinal fluid, which was completely resolved.