Patient: 19 years of age, female, BCVA 0.8 at OD, 1.0 at OS; IOP 17/18 mmHg
Ocular Medical History: viewing of a solar eclipse for some seconds.
General Medical History: empty.
Main Complaint: reduction of visual acuity just after viewing of a solar eclipse.
Purpose: to demonstate alteration of macula after viewing of a solar eclipse for some seconds.
Methods: Colour Photography Posterior Segment, SD-Optical Coherence Tomography.
Findings:
Colour Photography Posterior Segment: yellowish-white spot in the center of the foveal region at OD.
SD-Optical Coherence Tomography: increased reflectivity of the inner foveal retina with a hyporeflective area of the underlying retinal pigment epithelium.
Discussion:
Solar retinopathy or eclipse retinopathy is a macular damage resulting from viewing of a solar eclipse. Chen et al. (1) reported, that visual deterioration from solar retinopathy typically ranges from 6/9 to 6/60 and in most cases the visual loss is reversible. The visual prognosis of solar retinopathy is usually favourable. Retinal damage is caused by photochemical changes combined with a rise in temperature at the time of sun observation (2).
Literature:
(1) Chen JC, Lee LR. Solar retinopathy and associated optical coherence tomography findings. Clin Exp Optom. 2004 Nov;87(6):390-3.
(2) Macarez R, Vanimschoot M, Ocamica P, Kovalski JL. Optical coherence tomography follow-up of a case of solar maculopathy. J Fr Ophtalmol. 2007 Mar;30(3):276-80.
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