Healing features of outer retinal layers on SS OCT in VKH disease

Abstract

AbstractPurpose: To describe restoration of outer retinal layers on Swept‐Source OCT (SS OCT) in Vogt Koyanagi Harada (VKH) disease over a year after the disease onset.Methods: Prospective longitudinal study carried out at the department of Ophthalmology of Fattouma Bourguiba University Hospital of Monastir. Twenty‐one patients (42 eyes) were followed‐up for 12 months after the disease onset. The patients were included at the acute phase and subsequently treated. Sequential SS OCT changes were assessed.Results: Structural SS OCT changes occurred in 24 eyes (57.1%) on month 3 (M3), in 23 eyes (54.8%) on month 6 (M6), and in 19 eyes (45.2%) on month 12 (M12). They included external nuclear layer atrophy (14.3% on M3; 11.9% on M6; and 9.5% on M12); ellipsoid zone disruption (40.5% on M3; 38.1% on M6; and 33.3% on M12); interdigitation zone disruption (42.9% on M3; 40.5% on M6; and 33.3% on M12); and multifocal retinal pigment epithelium thickening (50% on M3; 45.2% on M6; and 31% on M12). No significant association between final visual acuity and external retinal layers alterations at any stage of the study was found. Stepwise analysis showed that the presence of serous retinal detachment at presentation was an independent factor for structural SS OCT changes on M3.Conclusions: After initial onset, SS OCT shows thinning of the outer nuclear layer, disruption of the ellipsoid and interdigitation zones, and multifocal retinal pigment epithelium thickening. Serous retinal detachment at presentation is an independent factor for structural SS OCT changes during the first year of the disease.