Vogt-Koyanagi-Harada disease

Abstract

Vogt-Koyanagi-Harada disease is a chronic, granulomatous systemic autoimmune disease with manifestations in the ocular, central nervous, auditory, and integumentary systems. The target of attack seems to be antigens associated with melanocytes. Patients are usually of Asian, Middle Eastern, Asian Indian, Native American, or Hispanic ethnicity, and complain of neurologic symptoms quickly followed by decreased vision caused by a choroiditis, frequently with exudative retinal detachments. Corticosteroids are the mainstay of therapy, but other immunosuppressive therapy may be required. Complications, including cataract, glaucoma, choroidal neovascular membrane formation, and subretinal fibrosis, may limit final visual acuity.