AZOOR Society

Protecting your gift of sight.

Have you been diagnosed with Acute Zonal Occult Outer Retinopathy (AZOOR)? If so, we are here to help and hear your story.

What is AZOOR?

(Acute Zonal Occult Outer Retinopathy)

AZOOR (Acute Zonal Occult Outer Retinopathy) is a rare eye disorder affecting the retina that causes loss of vision in one or both eyes which may recover over a number of years. The disorder primarily affects young, short-sighted women. Because of its rarity, little is known about the disorder and there is no known treatment or cure. To date, little research has been conducted.

Liz Upchurch sitting in a chair and speaking to the video camera.

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What we do

(Gathering data for research)

We are committed to promoting awareness of AZOOR and enabling further research by gathering data through our online survey. We assist the medical community in the United Kingdom and North America by supplying them with up-to-date information to allow better research, assistance and consultation for AZOOR patients.

  • 0%

    AZOOR sufferers who are female.

  • 0%

    AZOOR sufferers who are 40-75 years old.

  • 0%

    AZOOR sufferers who can manage the condition if diagnosed early.

Who we are

(Board and team members)

  • Liz Upchurch

    Co-Founder + Executive Director

  • Rita Upchurch

    Co-Founder + Board Chair

  • David Weeden

    Treasurer

  • Jan Ford

    Board Member

  • Alan C. Bird

    Patron

Links & Resources

(Case studies and field research)

See below for the latest articles and research findings relating to AZOOR.

  • Changes in Outer Retinal MicrostructuresNational Center for Biotechnology Information

    Description and link to article

    Changes in outer retinal microstructures during six month period in eyes with acute zonal occult outer retinopathy-complex.

    View report

  • Acute Zonal Occult Outer RetinopathyNational Center for Biotechnology Information

    Description and link to article

    Autologous antibodies to outer retina in acute zonal occult outer retinopathy.

    View report

  • AZOOR with Atypical FindingsNational Center for Biotechnology Information

    Description and link to article

    A 23-year-old-female presented with visual acuity deterioration in her right eye accompanied by photopsia bilaterally.

    View report

  • Changes in Outer Retinal Coherence TomographyNational Center for Biotechnology Information

    Description and link to article

    Spontaneous remission of acute zonal occult outer retinopathy: follow-up using adaptive optics scanning laser ophthalmoscopy.

    View report

  • A Classification Based on Multimodal ImagingNational Center for Biotechnology Information

    Description and link to article

    We describe the multimodal imaging in a group of patients showing a distinct clinical entity that best represents acute zonal occult outer retinopathy (AZOOR).

    View report

  • Successful Treatment of an Overlapping ChoriocapillaritisNational Center for Biotechnology Information

    Description and link to article

    Successful treatment of an overlapping choriocapillaritis between multifocal choroiditis and acute zonal occult outer retinopathy (AZOOR) with adalimumab (Humira™).

    View report

  • Case Study: Light-Adapted PerimetryNational Center for Biotechnology Information

    Description and link to article

    To assess the results of perimetry recorded under dark- and light-adapted (DA and LA) conditions in patients with acute zonal occult outer retinopathy (AZOOR) and to compare the results of electroretinography (ERG) and spectral-domain optical coherence tomography (SD-OCT) in two groups of AZOOR patients.

    View report

  • Functional and Microstructural Changes of PhotoreceptorsNational Center for Biotechnology Information

    Description and link to article

    Focal functional and microstructural changes of photoreceptors in eyes with acute zonal occult outer retinopathy.

    View report

Make a donation

(Funding the necessary research)

Help us fund further research for AZOOR! 

The AZOOR Society exists to advance public awareness, lead and support research efforts, and provide a place for patients to connect. We couldn’t do the work we do without the support of our generous donors. We are the ONLY charity exclusively focused on researching and curing AZOOR. Without your donations, we could not fund the important research that needs to take place to understand this rare eye disease, bringing us closer to a cure.   

If you are interested in becoming a donor, we would be grateful for any contribution you can make, no matter how small. Every dollar helps us get there. 

We kindly accept donations via PayPal.

Take our online survey

(Help contribute to our database)

We are committed to helping AZOOR researchers by gathering meaningful data from actual AZOOR sufferers like you. If you suffer from AZOOR and would like to help by sharing your story, please complete our short survey below.

Take online survey