Acute zonal occult outer retinopathy explained

Synonyms:	AZOOR
Pronounce:	ah-cewt zoh-nahl ock-cohlt ow-tehr reh-tin-ah-puh-thee
Field:	ophthalmology

Acute zonal occult outer retinopathy (AZOOR) is an inflammatory retinopathy in the category of white dot syndromes typified by acute loss of one or more zones of outer retinal function associated with photopsia, minimal funduscopic changes and abnormal electroretinography findings.^{[1] [2]}

This retinal disease was first described by Donald Gass in 1992.^[3] Relatively little is known about the condition.

Risk factors

Caucasian females in their mid-thirties appear to be most susceptible but the disease may affect anyone regardless of age, sex or race.^[4]

Pathophysiology

The disease mechanism is unknown but it is believed that it may be caused by a virus,^[5] or an auto immune response.

Notes and References

1. Quillen DA, Davis JB, Gottlieb JL, Blodi BA, Callanan DG, Chang TS, et al. The white dot syndromes. American Journal of Ophthalmology. 2004;137(3):538-50.
2. Carrasco L, Ramos M, Galisteo R, Pisa D, Fresno M, Gonzalez ME. Isolation of Candida famata from a Patient with Acute Zonal Occult Outer Retinopathy. J Clin Microbiol. 2005;43(2):635-40.
3. Web site: AZOOR. American Academy of Ophthalmology. Hugo R. Salcedo, MD, Koushik Tripathy, MD (AIIMS), FRCS (Glasgow) and Vinay A. Shah M.D.
4. Web site: AZOOR. American Academy of Ophthalmology. Hugo R. Salcedo, MD, Koushik Tripathy, MD (AIIMS), FRCS (Glasgow) and Vinay A. Shah M.D.
5. Web site: AZOOR. American Academy of Ophthalmology. Hugo R. Salcedo, MD, Koushik Tripathy, MD (AIIMS), FRCS (Glasgow) and Vinay A. Shah M.D.