National Center for Advancing and Translational Sciences Genetic and Rare Diseases Information Center, a program of the National Center for Advancing and Translational Sciences

Birdshot chorioretinopathy


Other Names:
BSCR; Multiple small, cream-colored lesions, symmetrically scattered mainly around the optic disk; Birdshot chorioretinitis; BSCR; Multiple small, cream-colored lesions, symmetrically scattered mainly around the optic disk; Birdshot chorioretinitis; Birdshot retinochoroiditis; Birdshot retinochoroidopathy; Vitiliginous choroiditis See More
Categories:
Birdshot chorioretinopathy is an eye condition in which painless, light-colored spots develop on the retina.  These spots are scattered in a "birdshot" pattern.  The effects of this condition on vision are quite variable; some individuals' vision is only mildly affected, whereas others experience a significant decline in vision, the appearance of floaters (small specks that appear in one's line of sight), night blindness, and other vision problems.  Symptoms typically begin around middle age; Caucasians are affected more than individuals of other ethnicities.  The cause of birdshot chorioretinopathy is currently unknown, but it is suspected to be an autoimmune disease.  Treatment may include medications that aim to regulate the body's immune response.[1]
Last updated: 3/21/2013

This table lists symptoms that people with this disease may have. For most diseases, symptoms will vary from person to person. People with the same disease may not have all the symptoms listed. This information comes from a database called the Human Phenotype Ontology (HPO) . The HPO collects information on symptoms that have been described in medical resources. The HPO is updated regularly. Use the HPO ID to access more in-depth information about a symptom.

Showing of 25 |
Medical Terms Other Names
Learn More:
HPO ID
80%-99% of people have these symptoms
Abnormal chorioretinal morphology 0000532
Cystoid macular edema 0011505
Ocular hypertension
High eye pressure
0007906
Photoreceptor layer loss on macular OCT 0030609
Visual loss
Loss of vision
Vision loss
[ more ] 		0000572
Vitritis 0011531
30%-79% of people have these symptoms
Attenuation of retinal blood vessels
Narrowing of blood vessels in back of eye
0007843
Blind-spot enlargment 0030644
Blurred vision 0000622
Cataract
Clouding of the lens of the eye
Cloudy lens
[ more ] 		0000518
Epiretinal membrane 0100014
Inflammatory abnormality of the eye 0100533
Macular hole 0011508
Macular scar 0200056
Optic disc pallor 0000543
Photophobia
Extreme sensitivity of the eyes to light
Light hypersensitivity
[ more ] 		0000613
Retinal thinning 0030329
Vitreous floaters
Eye floaters
Spots in front of eyes
[ more ] 		0100832
5%-29% of people have these symptoms
Arcuate scotoma 0030530
Choroidal neovascularization 0011506
Retinal detachment
Detached retina
0000541
Percent of people who have these symptoms is not available through HPO
Autosomal dominant inheritance 0000006
Posterior uveitis 0012123
Retinal pigment epithelial atrophy 0007722
Visual impairment
Impaired vision
Loss of eyesight
Poor vision
[ more ] 		0000505
Showing of 25 |
Last updated: 7/1/2020
Unfortunately, there is currently no cure for birdshot chorioretinopathy.  Because this condition is rare, there are no established guidelines for treatment.  Treatment is determined based on the severity of each affected individual's symptoms.  Because birdshot chorioretinopathy is suspected to be an autoimmune disease, therapies aim to regulate the body's immune response.  Therapies may include corticosteroids such as prednisone (by injection or medication taken by mouth) or medications that suppress the immune system such as cyclosporine.[1][2]
Last updated: 3/21/2013

If you need medical advice, you can look for doctors or other healthcare professionals who have experience with this disease. You may find these specialists through advocacy organizations, clinical trials, or articles published in medical journals. You may also want to contact a university or tertiary medical center in your area, because these centers tend to see more complex cases and have the latest technology and treatments.

If you can’t find a specialist in your local area, try contacting national or international specialists. They may be able to refer you to someone they know through conferences or research efforts. Some specialists may be willing to consult with you or your local doctors over the phone or by email if you can't travel to them for care.

You can find more tips in our guide, How to Find a Disease Specialist. We also encourage you to explore the rest of this page to find resources that can help you find specialists.

Healthcare Resources

Related diseases are conditions that have similar signs and symptoms. A health care provider may consider these conditions in the table below when making a diagnosis. Please note that the table may not include all the possible conditions related to this disease.

Conditions with similar signs and symptoms from Orphanet
The differential diagnoses are those diseases that produce white dots in choroid and retina; they include white dot syndromes, vogt-Koyanagi-Harada disease, infectious etiologies (Lyme disease, tuberculosis, toxoplasmosis) and primary intraocular lymphoma (masquerade syndromes) (see these terms).
Visit the Orphanet disease page for more information.

Research helps us better understand diseases and can lead to advances in diagnosis and treatment. This section provides resources to help you learn about medical research and ways to get involved.

Clinical Research Resources

  • ClinicalTrials.gov lists trials that are related to Birdshot chorioretinopathy. Click on the link to go to ClinicalTrials.gov to read descriptions of these studies.

    Please note: Studies listed on the ClinicalTrials.gov website are listed for informational purposes only; being listed does not reflect an endorsement by GARD or the NIH. We strongly recommend that you talk with a trusted healthcare provider before choosing to participate in any clinical study.

Support and advocacy groups can help you connect with other patients and families, and they can provide valuable services. Many develop patient-centered information and are the driving force behind research for better treatments and possible cures. They can direct you to research, resources, and services. Many organizations also have experts who serve as medical advisors or provide lists of doctors/clinics. Visit the group’s website or contact them to learn about the services they offer. Inclusion on this list is not an endorsement by GARD.

Organizations Supporting this Disease

Living with a genetic or rare disease can impact the daily lives of patients and families. These resources can help families navigate various aspects of living with a rare disease.

Financial Resources

  • Patient Access Network Foundation (PAN Foundation) has Assistance Programs for those with health insurance who reside in the United States. The disease fund status can change over time, so you may need to check back if funds are not currently available. 
  • The Assistance Fund provides various services, including education and financial aid, to help patients with a chronic or serious illness cover the cost of FDA-approved medications. Patients must be U.S citizens or permanent residents.

These resources provide more information about this condition or associated symptoms. The in-depth resources contain medical and scientific language that may be hard to understand. You may want to review these resources with a medical professional.

In-Depth Information

  • Medscape Reference provides information on this topic. You may need to register to view the medical textbook, but registration is free.
  • The Monarch Initiative brings together data about this condition from humans and other species to help physicians and biomedical researchers. Monarch’s tools are designed to make it easier to compare the signs and symptoms (phenotypes) of different diseases and discover common features. This initiative is a collaboration between several academic institutions across the world and is funded by the National Institutes of Health. Visit the website to explore the biology of this condition.
  • Online Mendelian Inheritance in Man (OMIM) is a catalog of human genes and genetic disorders. Each entry has a summary of related medical articles. It is meant for health care professionals and researchers. OMIM is maintained by Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine. 
  • Orphanet is a European reference portal for information on rare diseases and orphan drugs. Access to this database is free of charge.
  • PubMed is a searchable database of medical literature and lists journal articles that discuss Birdshot chorioretinopathy. Click on the link to view a sample search on this topic.

Questions sent to GARD may be posted here if the information could be helpful to others. We remove all identifying information when posting a question to protect your privacy. If you do not want your question posted, please let us know. Submit a new question

  • Do you have any new information or research on cures or treatments for birdshot chorioretinopathy? See answer


  1. Samson CM. Birdshot Retinopathy. Medscape Reference. November 2011; http://emedicine.medscape.com/article/1223257-overview. Accessed 3/21/2012.
  2. Monnet D, Brézin AP. Birdshot chorioretinopathy. Current Opinion in Ophthalmology. 2006; 17:545-550. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17065923/. Accessed 3/21/2012.