Hyper-Reflective Outer Nuclear Layer (HONL) in Vogt-Koyanagi-Harada Disease and Sympathetic Ophthalmia

Ocul Immunol Inflamm. 2024 May;32(4):419-423. doi: 10.1080/09273948.2022.2134038. Epub 2022 Nov 4.

Abstract

Purpose: To describe the optical coherence tomography (OCT) findings of hyper-reflective outer nuclear layer (HONL) in two cases of stromal choroiditis (Vogt-Koyanagi-Harada disease - VKH, and sympathetic ophthalmia - SO).

Methods: Case report.

Results: Clinical and imaging findings of two patients (37-year-old female with VKH and 34-year-old male with SO) have been described. Both patients showed typical features of the disease with subretinal fluid accumulation and choroidal thickening on OCT. However, OCT of both patients at the initial visit revealed HONL, which was unusual in these conditions. During follow-up, OCT scans revealed thinning and atrophy of the outer retinal layers, irregular thickening of the retinal pigment epithelium, and irregular autofluorescence pattern on autofluorescence imaging.

Conclusions: The presence of HONL may serve as a poor prognostic factor in VKH and SO, resulting in thinning and atrophy of the outer retinal layers.

Keywords: Hyper-reflective outer nuclear layer; Vogt–Koyanagi–Harada; optical coherence tomography; posterior uveitis; sympathetic ophtalmia.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Female
  • Fluorescein Angiography* / methods
  • Glucocorticoids / therapeutic use
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Ophthalmia, Sympathetic* / diagnosis
  • Retinal Pigment Epithelium* / pathology
  • Tomography, Optical Coherence* / methods
  • Uveomeningoencephalitic Syndrome* / diagnosis
  • Visual Acuity*

Substances

  • Glucocorticoids