title: Acute zonal occult outer retinopathy: towards a set of diagnostic criteria.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Individuals with acute zonal occult outer retinopathy (AZOOR) present with initially progressive scotomata and photopsia. Characteristically, the extent of the visual field defect is unexplained by fundal examination, but there is marked retinal dysfunction evident electrophysiologically. It is the authors' experience that a group of patients exhibit characteristic clinical and electrophysiological abnormalities, which serve as criteria for a working diagnosis.
  
  
  METHODS
  A retrospective observational case series of 28 patients were identified with the clinical diagnosis of AZOOR who shared similar abnormal electrophysiology. Details of the history and ophthalmic findings were obtained from the case notes.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Electrophysiology demonstrated a consistent pattern of dysfunction both at the photoreceptor/retinal pigment epithelial complex but also at inner retinal levels, essentially comprising a delayed 30 Hz flicker ERG and a reduction in the EOG light rise.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study determines diagnostic criteria applicable to a group of patients with AZOOR, typically those with classic symptomatology. Electrophysiological testing can help avoid lengthy, costly, and potentially invasive investigations, and the unnecessary use of immunosuppressive therapy.
authors.affiliation: Department of Electrophysiology, Moorfields Eye Hospital, 162 City Road, London EC1V 2PD, UK.
authors.forename: P J
authors.initials: PJ
authors.lastname: Francis
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Marinescu
authors.forename: F W
authors.initials: FW
authors.lastname: Fitzke
authors.forename: A C
authors.initials: AC
authors.lastname: Bird
authors.forename: G E
authors.initials: GE
authors.lastname: Holder
mesh_terms: D000208:Acute Disease; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D004585:Electrooculography / Q000379:methods; D004596:Electroretinography / Q000379:methods; D005260:Female; D005654:Fundus Oculi; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012164:Retinal Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012607:Scotoma / Q000503:physiopathology; D013577:Syndrome; D014786:Vision Disorders / Q000503:physiopathology