What causes MEWDS?

MEWDS results from idiopathic inflammation of the retina and choroid. It is most common in healthy, young, myopic females and typically has an acute and unilateral presentation. In one third of cases, there will be a preceding viral illness.

How do you treat MEWDS?

Since MEWDS is a self-limited disease, with almost all patients regaining good visual acuity within 3-9 weeks, no treatment is recommended. Photopsias and scotomata gradually resolve and the lesions will disappear and may be replaced by mild pigment mottling or chorioretinal scarring.

What is evanescent white dot syndrome?

The multiple evanescent white dot syndrome (MEWDS) is an inflammatory retinal disorder, typically observed in young patients, that is characterized by unilateral visual loss and the presence of small, punctate, yellow-white lesions that involve the outer retina.

Can MEWDS recur?

MEWDS appears to involve the outer retina and the RPE/choriocapillaris. It is usually a self-limiting condition with complete visual recovery within a few weeks after the onset, even though it may rarely recur.

How common is MEWDS?

MEWDS is unilateral in 80% of the cases and affects women more than men in the second to fifth decades.

How long does multiple evanescent white dot syndrome last?

MEWDS is a self limited disease with excellent visual recovery within 2-10 weeks. However residual symptoms including photopsia may persist for months.

Does white dot syndrome go away?

Treatment is required in the latter case to combat loss of vision. The white dots usually disappear naturally. Corticosteroids have been shown to speed up this process. The differences in the immune response of each patient may contribute to the differences seen between the white dot syndromes.

What does Photopsia mean?

Photopsia definition Photopsias are defined as an effect on the vision that causes appearances of anomalies in the vision. Photopsias usually appear as: flickering lights. shimmering lights. floating shapes.