Prophylactic Photocoagulation of Recurrent Toxoplasmic Retinochoroiditis

Abstract

Since the recognition of the toxoplasma parasite as a common cause of posterior uveitis, a major effort has been directed toward the management of this often visually disabling disease. One of the outstanding characteristics of ocular toxoplasmosis and perhaps the most difficult to control is the tendency of the active disease process to recur. Chemotherapy may shorten the duration of the inflammatory process, but once the retinal tissue is actively involved, permanent loss of local retinal function can often be anticipated. Recurrence of a perimacular inactive lesion with extension into the macular area can convert an eye with perfect vision into one without useful acuity. Marked vitreous reaction secondary to reactivation of even a small peripheral retinochoroidal scar can produce disturbing visual symptoms or become disabling, if the affected eye is the only useful eye. This clinical investigation, therefore, was undertaken to evaluate the effects of photocoagulation on the prevention