The Characteristics of Primary Multiple Evanescent White Dot Syndrome: Comparison of Adolescent, Young and Middle-Aged, Elderly

Purpose To observe the characteristics of primary multiple evanescent white dot syndrome (MEWDS) in adolescent patients, young and middle-aged patients and elderly patients.Methods The primary MEWDS patients with at least 3-month follow-up were retrospectively evaluated. We extracted the characteristics of the study population (age, gender, laterality, ametropia, time of onset et al.) and analyzed the multi-model imaging (MMI) features (visible spots or dots, foveal granularity, vascular leakage, area of lesions et al.). These parameters were compared between the adolescent, young and middle-aged and elderly. In addition, the difference in these parameters between complete visual acuity (VA) recovery group and incomplete VA recovery group was evaluated.Results A total of 37 eyes from 37 MEWDS patients were included. In adolescent MEWDS patients, vascular leakage on fluorescein angiography (FA) was more common at presentation (χ2 = 7.636, p = 0.027, φ = 0.454), while in elderly MEWDS patients, hyperautofluorescence on fundus autofluorescence (FAF) was more common at 3-month follow-up (χ2 = 6.410, p = 0.048, φ = 0.435). Neither the initial VA nor the VA outcome was associated with age stage. However, there was a significant difference in VA at presentation (t = -6.26, P <0.001, d = −2.022) between complete VA recovery group and incomplete VA recovery group.Conclusion Primary MEWDS in different age stages was characterized by different MMI features. Although the age stage was not associated with the initial VA and the VA outcome, poor initial VA might be a prediction factor for poor visual prognosis.