Birdshot Chorioretinopathy

Birdshot chorioretinopathy affects the choroid and retina at the back of the eye. It is understood as an immune-driven inflammation of these tissues, and carries one of the strongest known associations between a genetic marker, the HLA-A29 allele, and any human disease, with more recent research pointing to a gene called ERAP2 as a contributor to how that genetic risk translates into disease.

A 2022 review described it as affecting mainly middle-aged adults of European descent, with a mean age at presentation of 53 and a slight female predominance, and noted that at least 96 percent of reported cases test positive for HLA-A29. It is chronic and can progress, and there is no single agreed treatment protocol, so ongoing care with an eye specialist matters for protecting vision, typically involving corticosteroids and often longer-term immunosuppressive therapy.

Common signs

Blurred vision, floaters, flashes of light, blind spots, trouble seeing at night, and difficulty with color or contrast. Symptoms can be mild at first, which sometimes delays diagnosis.

This is a plain-language summary for orientation, not a diagnosis. Mechanisms are described as current understanding, not settled fact. Work with your own clinician for your care.