Inner retinal changes in acute-phase Vogt-Koyanagi-Harada disease measured by enhanced spectral domain optical coherence tomography

Purpose To assess the changes of inner retinal thickness in patients with Vogt-Koyanagi-Harada disease (VKH) using enhanced spectral domain optical coherence tomography (SD-OCT). Methods We retrospectively reviewed enhanced SD-OCT images of 12 eyes of seven consecutive patients with VKH in both acute and convalescent phases. Inner retinal thickness, measured from the inner limiting membrane to the inner plexiform layer (ILM-IPL), and nerve fiber layer (NFL) thickness at 1.5 and 2.0 mm along the outer border of the IPL from the central fovea at nasal, temporal, superior, and inferior points were measured. Twelve eyes of 12 patients with central serous chorioretinopathy (CSC) were evaluated as controls. Results In the VKH patients, ILM-IPL thickness in the acute phase was significantly greater than that in the convalescent phase at each point of the retina; however, an intraretinal cystoid space was not observed. The thickness of the NFL was significantly larger in the nasal quadrant. On fluorescein angiography, no leakage from the retinal vasculature was seen in any of the cases. In the CSC cases, no differences were seen in ILM-IPL thickness between the acute and convalescent phases at any point. Conclusions Inner retinal thickness in the acute phase of VKH is larger than in the convalescent phase.