Multifocal choroiditis and panuveitis (MCP) is an
inflammatory disorder of
unknown etiology, affecting the
choroid
The choroid, also known as the choroidea or choroid coat, is a part of the uvea, the vascular layer of the eye, and contains connective tissues, and lies between the retina and the sclera. The human choroid is thickest at the far extreme rear ...
,
retina
The retina (from la, rete "net") is the innermost, light-sensitive layer of tissue of the eye of most vertebrates and some molluscs. The optics of the eye create a focused two-dimensional image of the visual world on the retina, which then ...
, and
vitreous
Vitreous may refer to:
Materials
* Glass, an amorphous solid material
** Vitreous enamel, a material made by fusing powdered glass to a substrate by firing
* Vitreous lustre, a glassy luster or sheen on a mineral surface
Biology
* Vitreous body, ...
of the eye that presents asymmetrically, most often in young
myopic
Near-sightedness, also known as myopia and short-sightedness, is an eye disease where light focuses in front of, instead of on, the retina. As a result, distant objects appear blurry while close objects appear normal. Other symptoms may include ...
women with
photopsias
Photopsia is the presence of perceived flashes of light in the field of vision.
It is most commonly associated with:
* posterior vitreous detachment
* migraine aura ( ocular migraine / retinal migraine)
* migraine aura without headache
* scint ...
, enlargement of the
physiologic blind spot and decreased vision.
The first description of the disease was written in 1973.
Symptoms
Symptoms include blurry vision, with or without sensitivity to light, blind spots,
floaters
Floaters or eye floaters are sometimes visible deposits (e.g., the shadows of tiny structures of protein or other cell debris projected onto the retina) within the eye's vitreous humour ("the vitreous"), which is normally transparent, or between ...
, eye discomfort and perceived flashes of light.
Diagnosis
An ophthalmologist
Ophthalmology ( ) is a surgery, surgical subspecialty within medicine that deals with the diagnosis and treatment of eye disorders.
An ophthalmologist is a physician who undergoes subspecialty training in medical and surgical eye care. Followin ...
may use a series of imaging techniques. A test called flourescein angiography uses a special dye and camera to study blood flow in the back layers of the eye.
When a person has multifocal choroiditis (MFC), lesions in the eye will appear as fluorescent spots. Visual field tests may also show an enlarged blind spot or a decrease in visual clarity. Often, doctors may order blood tests to check if the symptoms are caused by a viral disease rather than MFC.
Treatment
Treatments vary depending on the severity of the diagnosis.
A steroid
A steroid is a biologically active organic compound with four rings arranged in a specific molecular configuration. Steroids have two principal biological functions: as important components of cell membranes that alter membrane fluidity; and a ...
regimen taken orally, often at low doses, is recommended as a first course of treatment. The low dose of steroids can help decrease inflammation
Inflammation (from la, wikt:en:inflammatio#Latin, inflammatio) is part of the complex biological response of body tissues to harmful stimuli, such as pathogens, damaged cells, or Irritation, irritants, and is a protective response involving im ...
, and as a result, lessens the visual impairment.
In the event steroids are not effective, medicines may be administered via injections directly into the eye.
One such treatment uses Ozurdex. A small capsule is inserted into the eye via injection, and releases medicines slowly, in the course of a few months, as the capsule dissolves.
References
Further reading
*
Disorders of choroid and retina
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