Optical coherence tomography and molecular analysis of sudden acquired retinal degeneration syndrome (SARDS) eyes suggests the immune‐mediated nature of retinal damage

Objective To perform detailed analysis of retinal changes in dogs with SARDS using optical coherence tomography (OCT), funduscopy, and molecular analysis. Animals Subjects were 29 dogs from 12 US states and Canada diagnosed with SARDS by 8 ophthalmologists. An additional 7 eyes from 5 deceased SARDS dogs were used for molecular and histological analysis. Procedures Dogs were evaluated using chromatic pupil light reflex testing (cPLR), and electroretinography (ERG); subjects underwent complete ophthalmic examination, including funduscopy, retinal photography, and OCT, in addition to complete laboratory analysis, blood pressure evaluation, abdominal and thoracic radiographs, and computerized tomography (CT) imaging to assess possible systemic abnormalities. Histology and immunohistochemistry analysis was performed in 2 SARDS eyes. Microarray analysis was performed in 5 SARDS retinas. Results Thirty‐eight percent of patients had