Living with birdshot chorioretinopathy

Birdshot chorioretinopathy is known by many other names, including: birdshot retinochoroidopathy, birdshot retinochoroiditis, birdshot retinopathy, or simply birdshot. It’s a rare disease that affects the back of the eye, and it can be hard to diagnose, so you might live with symptoms for a while before getting a clear diagnosis. 

Early symptoms include floaters and blurred vision. As it progresses, the condition can cause night blindness, sensitivity to light (photophobia), distorted vision, and other vision problems. Although a small percentage of people get better without needing medical treatment, most people need corticosteroids and immunosuppressant medicines to get the inflammation under control. Managing life with the symptoms of birdshot chorioretinopathy can sometimes be challenging, but there is support to help you live independently and carry on doing the things you enjoy.

There’s more information on the symptoms, causes and treatments of birdshot chorioretinopathy on Moorfields’ website. 

Living independently with birdshot chorioretinopathy 

The best treatment to help those with birdshot chorioretinopathy live independently will vary from person to person, and it can take time to find the right combination for each individual. With birdshot chorioretinopathy, flare-ups and changes to vision are common, so regular adjustments to treatment and support will be needed. 

At Guide Dogs, we have a wide range of services, both with and without guide dogs, and a team of experts who can work with you to understand your needs and agree on a plan that’s right for you.

The ways we could help you:

• Habilitation or rehabilitation of important life skills
• Our guide dog service
• Our Vision Rehabilitation Specialists can make recommendations best suited to you and your needs
• Tips and advice to help you make the most of your remaining vision
• Resources and support on how technology can improve your independence

If you're dealing with vision loss, there are products, support, and services designed to help you be as independent as possible. These include:

• Low vision assessments (LVA). Your ophthalmologist or eye clinic may refer you for a low vision assessment to review your vision and the visual aids that could best help you.
• Local social services can support you in keeping safe at home and getting around safely if sight loss affects your mobility.
• Assistive technology can help you get out and about, continue enjoying hobbies like reading books or watching films and TV, and support you at work. Our Tech Selector helps you find the right assistive tech for you, or you can read our informational guides on accessible technology. 
• Simple, low-tech solutions, like phones with large numbers and large print keyboards, can make life easier.

Find out how learning new independent living skills can help you manage day-to-day life at home. We also have lots of practical tips on skills for personal care with vision loss. 

Working with birdshot chorioretinopathy 

Having a vision impairment doesn't mean you'll have to stop working, but you may need some extra support. Under the Equality Act, all employers have a duty to make reasonable adjustments for people with vision impairments. Your needs might change over time: some people experience flare-ups with worse symptoms than remission. You may also have side effects, including cataracts and glaucoma that may need treatment. 

It's a personal choice, but telling your employer and colleagues about your condition could help. You can explain your symptoms, treatment side effects, and the type of support you need at work. This could include:

• Time off for regular follow-up appointments with your ophthalmologist and other healthcare professionals looking after you.
• Flexible working arrangements like working from home or part-time that make it easier to work when your symptoms are worse during a flare-up.
• Large print materials and products, such as keyboards and phones, making it easier to do your work with vision problems.
• Low vision aids, such as magnifiers, to help with reading.
• Screen reader software and other technology. 

The Access to Work scheme provides grants to employers for equipment or services you need to work. Grants can fund transport to and from work, a support worker to accompany you at work, and more. you at work, and more.

Driving with birdshot chorioretinopathy

As long as your vision meets the DVLA's minimum eyesight requirements for driving, you can still drive. You can also wear contact lenses or glasses to correct refractive errors  if necessary to meet the required standard. You might also want to use tinted lenses if you have trouble with glare. It's best to check with your ophthalmologist that your sight meets this standard, as your vision can change over time with birdshot chorioretinopathy.

Support for people living with birdshot chorioretinopathy 

It's natural to feel worried about living with a condition that can cause vision loss. Try letting family and friends know how you're feeling, so they can understand and help you. Other people living with eye conditions and vision impairment can be a great source of practical advice and emotional support. Contact us to find out how we can connect you with others. Many people living with rare diseases like birdshot chorioretinopathy find it especially helpful to connect with others who have the same condition. The Birdshot Uveitis Society is a UK organisation dedicated to supporting people with the condition.

Edited and reviewed by Susie Baker, Principal Vision Rehabilitation Specialist on 21 May 2025

Guide Dogs is committed to working alongside people with a range of vision impairments, who are registered as either sight-impaired or severely sight-impaired.

Our staff undergo comprehensive training in supporting individuals with vision impairment, to enable us to support you every step of the way through one of our many services, with and without dogs. We foster knowledge of living with vision impairment and create content in collaboration with our Vision Rehabilitation Specialists and Habilitation Specialists.

This content is periodically reviewed as we continue to embrace new knowledge and up-to-date information, in order to improve how we deliver our services and advice.

Please note: Whilst Guide Dogs may be able to suggest various third-party websites which may be able to assist you, those are not endorsed by Guide Dogs. Guide Dogs have no control over those third parties and cannot be held responsible for the accuracy of information and support they can provide or the suitability and quality of any products or services they provide.

Frequently asked questions