Solar Retinopathy

Solar Retinopathy

23
Feb

A 25-year-old man presented with acute bilateral central floaters and blurred vision in both eyes after staring directly at the sun for several minutes. The BCVAs were 20/25 in both eyes and the anterior segment examinations were normal. Amsler grid testing confirmed the bilateral central scotoma.

Dilated fundus examination revealed a small, yellow, round foveal lesion in both eyes.

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Dilated fundus examination revealed a small, yellow, round foveal lesion in both eyes. Spectral domain optical coherence tomography (SD-OCT) scans demonstrated symmetric focal disruption of the subfoveal interdigitation and elipsoid zones in addition to underlying RPE, while the rest of the internal architecture is maintained.

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These findings were consistent with solar retinopathy. No treatment was warranted. At the two-month follow-up, the patient’s BCVAs were restored to 20/20; however, a focal outer retinal layer disruption persisted on SD-OCT.
Solar retinopathy is caused by unprotected macular exposure to direct sunlight or other forms of radiant energy. Diagnosis is made by a positive history of direct sunlight exposure and the clinical presentation of foveal lesions. There is currently no definitive medical treatment. Therefore, abstaining from direct sunlight gazing for any reason is the primary preventative measure against solar retinopathy.

Credit: Kemal Tekin, M.D., from Ulucanlar Eye Training and Research Hospital

Instagram accounts: @retina.academy and @dr.kemaltekin

 

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