Chorioretinitis
Chorioretinitis: Causes, Symptoms, Diagnosis and Treatment
Chorioretinitis is an inflammation of the tissue that connects the light-sensitive surface of the eye to the blood vessels that nourish it. The inflammation can affect different parts of the retina, including the choroid layer, which is the layer of the retina responsible for supplying blood to the photoreceptors. This condition is also sometimes referred to as chorioretinopathy.
Chorioretinitis usually affects both eyes, although it may start in one eye and spread to the other. In rare cases, it may affect only one eye. It may occur suddenly (acute chorioretinitis) or develop gradually over time (chronic chorioretinitis).
Causes of Chorioretinitis
The most common cause of chorioretinitis is infection caused by a virus or bacteria. This type of infection is known as infectious chorioretinitis. Other possible causes of chorioretinitis include:
- Eye trauma
- Sarcoidosis
- Toxoplasmosis
- Syphilis
- Tuberculosis
- Herpes virus
- Macular degeneration
- Argyll Robertson pupil
- Retinitis pigmentosa
- Diabetes
Symptoms of Chorioretinitis
The most common symptom of chorioretinitis is sudden vision loss. Other symptoms may include:
- Blind spots in the vision
- Blurry vision
- Flashes of light
- Floaters in the field of vision
- Sensitivity to light
- Headaches
- Eye pain
Diagnosis of Chorioretinitis
Your doctor will do an eye examination and may order tests such as visual acuity tests, fluorescein angiography, optical coherence tomography (OCT), and ultrasound of the eye. If your doctor suspects a certain infection, such as toxoplasmosis, they may order a laboratory test to confirm the diagnosis.
Treatment of Chorioretinitis
Treatment of chorioretinitis depends on the underlying cause of the condition. Generally, treatment may include:
- Antiviral or antibiotic medications to treat any underlying infection
- Corticosteroids to reduce inflammation
- Laser therapy to seal any leaking or bleeding blood vessels
- Surgery to repair any damage to the retina, such as scarring or detachment
- Vitrectomy, a procedure to remove blood or scar tissue from the vitreous of the eye
In some cases, vision may improve after treatment. However, vision loss due to chorioretinitis may be permanent.