The cause is generally unknown, but a viral illness has been reported prior to multiple evanescent white dot syndrom in one-third of cases. Since the disease occurs primarily in females, hormonal status might be a contributing factor. Acute zonal occult outer retinopathy
Some discrepancy exists as to whether acute zonal occult outer retinopathy is considered a white dot syndrome. However, it may definitely be related to other diseases included in the white dot syndrome group. Acute zonal occult outer retinopathy occurs in young to middle age adults and may eventually progress to retinal cell death. Symptoms include acute visual field loss and photopsias. Suspected causes include autoimmune, viral, and fungal. Multifocal choroiditis and panuveitis
Multifocal choroiditis occurs mainly in myopic females. The fundus presents with yellow or gray lesions (white dots) at the level of the choroid and retinal pigment epithelium. The size of the white dots are between 50 and 500 micrometres and localized in the macula. The disease is characterized by vitritis and anterior chamber inflammation. Decreased vision due to vitreous inflammation may occur. Unlike multiple evanescent white dot syndrome, multifocal choroiditis is a chronic disorder and macular scarring contributes to severe visual loss. Theories regarding the cause include an exogenous pathogen sensitizing an individual to antigens within photoreceptors, retinal pigment epithelium, or choroid. Punctate inner choroiditis
Punctate inner choroiditis is an inflammatory choroiditis which occurs mainly in young females. Symptoms include blurred vision and scotomas. Gray-white or yellow lesions are mainly present in the posterior pole and are between 100 and 300 micrometres in size.
14 July 2021.