Klin Monbl Augenheilkd
DOI: 10.1055/a-2730-1186
Der interessante Fall

Acute Zonal Occult Outer Retinopathy after Cataract Surgery

Akute zonale okkulte äußere Retinopathie nach Kataraktoperation

Authors

  • Stefanie Hartmann

    1   Department of Ophthalmology, University Hospital Bern, Switzerland
  • Dominique Hermann

    1   Department of Ophthalmology, University Hospital Bern, Switzerland
  • Margarita G. Todorova

    1   Department of Ophthalmology, University Hospital Bern, Switzerland
    2   Department of Ophthalmology, University Hospital Zurich, Switzerland

Background

Acute zonal occult outer retinopathy (AZOOR) is a rare retinal disorder first described by Gass in 1992 [1]. It presents with sudden scotomas and photopsia, predominantly affecting young myopic women and often progressing from unilateral to bilateral involvement. Diagnosis relies on multimodal imaging and functional testing, with characteristic findings on optical coherence tomography (OCT), fundus autofluorescence (FAF), and electroretinography (ERG). ERG typically shows impaired photoreceptor function, and retinal pigment epithelium atrophy develops over time. While the pathogenesis remains unclear, autoimmune and viral triggers have been suggested, supported by associations with autoimmune diseases and antiretinal antibodies [2], [3].



Publication History

Received: 24 August 2025

Accepted: 20 October 2025

Article published online:
02 December 2025

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