The visual field in toxoplasmic retinochoroiditis.
OBJECTIVE
To document loss of central field in patients with scars from toxoplasmic retinochoroiditis close to the disc after resolution of disease.


METHODS
Patients with a clinical diagnosis of toxoplasmic retinochoroiditis were enrolled from four centres. Automated central visual field testing was performed when their disease had settled and retinal photographs of the lesions were taken. The type of central field defect (whether absolute or relative) and whether it broke out to the periphery were correlated with the size of the retinochoroidal scar and its proximity to the optic nerve head.


RESULTS
69 eyes were enrolled; 16 (26%) were discarded because of poor field performance. Of the 53 remaining eyes, 31 showed absolute defects and 20 relative defects. Scars within one disc diameter of the disc were more likely to be associated with absolute defects breaking out to the periphery.


CONCLUSIONS
The scarring induced by toxoplasmic retinochoroiditis is associated with considerable field loss when it occurs close to the optic nerve head. Current treatment is unlikely to ameliorate this situation. The degree of visual field loss should be an outcome measure for future trials of the efficacy of treatment trials for the disease.
Stanford
M R
MR
Department of Ophthlamology, Medical Eye Unit, St Thomas's Hospital, Lambeth Palace Road, London SE1 7EH, UK. miles.stanford@kcl.ac.uk
Tomlin
E A
EA
Comyn
O
O
Holland
K
K
Pavesio
C
C
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002648:Child; D002825:Chorioretinitis / Q000150:complications / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D005451:Fluorescein Angiography / Q000379:methods; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009898:Optic Disk / Q000473:pathology; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012607:Scotoma / Q000150:complications / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology; D014126:Toxoplasmosis, Ocular / Q000150:complications / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D014786:Vision Disorders / Q000150:complications / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D014787:Vision Tests; D014792:Visual Acuity / Q000502:physiology; D014794:Visual Fields / Q000502:physiology*