Multifocal Choroiditis
Dear Dr. SerVaas,
My daughter (age 33) has been diagnosed with multifocal choroiditis in her left eye. Her vision is blurry. Can you give us any information on this condition?
-S
New Jersey
Indiana University ophthalmology expert Dr. Darrell WuDunn offers the following summary:
“Multifocal choroiditis is a rare eye disorder that predominantly affects women in their third to fifth decade. Some people with multifocal choroiditis have only mildly blurred vision, while others have vision too poor to drive or read normal-size print. In about half of cases, the vision continues to decline despite treatment. The cause of multifocal choroiditis is unknown, although some studies suggest an autoimmune response to an infection. Suppression of the immune system with corticosteroids and other therapies may be beneficial early in the disease course. Anti-infectious agents are not helpful. In some instances, laser treatment or injection into the eye may be indicated. Unfortunately, recurrences are common, and the visual prognosis is usually poor. Close monitoring by the ophthalmologist is recommended.”
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4 Comments ( Post a Comment )
I was diagnosed with Multifocal Choroiditis three months and have had 2 injections so far but about every 6-7 weeks there is a flare up. During flare ups is it detremental to my vision if I have to wait 1-2 weeks for treatment? My new doctor is booked and I can’t get in even though I can’t really see I have to wear a patch to keep from getting headaches and feeling dizzy. Could I lose my vision by waiting once the bleeding has started?
You need to get in quickly once bleeding or leaking occurs. I was misdiagnosed in my left eye 3yrs ago resulting in complete central blindness. May 08 at age 32 it hit my right eye. I have a wonderful doctor I’m working with and have lost count on my injections. I have been able to up to 12wks apart, now back down to six weeks.
I am 33 and was diagnosed with Multifocal Choroidiitis 2 years ago. I was on steroids (prednisone) for a year and a half. They told me that I couldn’t be on them for a long period of time but that is the only thing that seemed to stabilize my vision. When I would come off of them I would have a flare up within a couple of days. We tried a drug called Methotrexate for a long term medicine but it didn’t help either. I went of the steroids and my right eye was blurry and left eye was the good one. I was off of them about 6 months and then I had a flare up in my left eye which I was counting fingers at 3 feet. I am now back on steroids praying that it gets a little better. They are going to try another drug called Imuran which is similar to the Methotrexate to substitute the Prednisone to try to keep from having another flare up. It is depressing not to have the central vision in the eye especially if it is in both eyes at the same time.
I’m 30 and was diagnosed.. gosh.. I guess it was 3 years ago. So far it’s only in my left eye. I refuse to orally take steroids, and have had one injection to date. I seemed to be doing ok for awhile, but just recently I’ve had a really bad flare up. I’m wondering if anyone knows what causes the flare ups?? I feel like if I could avoid them it wouldn’t be so bad. But when it acts up, I can barely see, I get headaches, and I get so disheartened knowing that there’s basically nothing I can do about this… like I’m just waiting to go blind eventually. Also, what’s this that I’m reading about bleeding and leaking? Is it eventually going to do that as well??? :(