Vogt-Koyanagi-Harada Disease

Vogt-Koyanagi-Harada disease is a rare autoimmune condition in which the immune system attacks pigmented cells in the eyes, inner ear, skin, and nervous system, causing inflammation and sight problems.

Common symptoms

Blurred or reduced vision in both eyes, headache, neck stiffness, ringing in the ears, hearing changes, and later patchy changes in skin or hair colour.

Description

In Vogt-Koyanagi-Harada (VKH) disease the immune system mistakenly targets pigmented cells. In the eye, this causes a severe form of uveitis with swelling at the back of the eye and fluid collecting under the retina. Both eyes are usually affected.

The condition typically has several phases, starting with flu-like and neurological symptoms, then eye inflammation, and later changes in pigmentation of the skin, hair, and eyelashes. Early recognition matters because prompt treatment offers the best chance of preserving vision.

Treatment is led by specialist uveitis teams and usually involves high-dose steroids followed by immune-suppressing medicines for many months. With early and sustained treatment, many people recover good vision, although long-term monitoring is important to catch flare-ups and complications.