POOR VISUAL OUTCOME FOLLOWING OPTIC DISC EDEMA WITH A MACULAR STAR (NEURORETINITIS)

The term 'neuroretinitis' is a nonspecific description of a heterogeno us group of disorders which are characterized by optic disc edema and a macular star figure of exudates. The condition has typically been de scribed as benign and self-limited with a good visual prognosis. We re port three cases with poor visual outcome following optic disc edema a nd a macular star ('neuroretinitis'). We postulate that the poor visua l outcome in some patients may be due to a superimposed optic disc vas culitis or ischemic optic neuropathy. Ophthalmologists should be cauti ous when counselling patients about the visual prognosis in this syndr ome.