Macular pseudohypopyon from secondary syphilis.

Acute syphilitic posterior placoid chorioretinitis causes visual loss in patients with secondary syphilis. The condition is characterized by vitreitis and large, yellow placoid lesions in the macula. We examined a patient with syphilis who had a serious retinal detachment and an exudative fluid meniscus (pseudohypopyon).Visual recovery and complete resolution of the chorioretinal lesion occurred after intravenous penicillin therapy. Secondary syphilis should be considered in the differential diagnosis of any patient with a macular pseudohypopyon.