Histopathologic confirmation of lymphocytic infiltration of the optic nerve and inner retina in birdshot chorioretinopathy.

PURPOSE:To describe new histological findings involving the inner retina in birdshot chorioretinopathy. METHODS:Evaluation of the inner retinal pathology of the eye of a patient with bilateral birdshot chorioretinopathy who underwent enucleation for a unilateral ciliochoroidal melanoma. RESULTS:Histopathological sections showed focal perivascular lymphocytic infiltration at the optic nerve head that extended into the adjacent inner retina, mainly involving the ganglion and nerve fiber layers. CONCLUSION:We have previously shown that birdshot chorioretinopathy has multiple foci of lymphocytes in the choroid. This is the first report that demonstrates lymphocytic infiltration of the inner retinal layers. This may lead to the bipolar and Müller cell dysfunction that ultimately results in an electronegative electroretinogram.