Solar Retinopathy

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Disease

  • Typical damage to the fovea from direct observation of the sun/solar eclipse
    • often psychiatric patients, drug use

Symptoms

  • Visual loss, central scotoma, metamorphopsia, colour vision deficits
    • typically bilateral

Findings

  • Amsler grid: central scotoma
  • Fundoscopy: central white-yellowish foveal lesion 1, reddish in progression 1
  • OCT: irregularity of ellipsoidal zone

Differential Diagnosis

  • Laser retinopathy (typically unilateral)

Therapy

  • Observe, usually improvement of symptoms within 3-6 months

Sources

  • The Wills Eye Manual: Office and Emergency Room Diagnosis and Treatment of Eye Disease; Kalla Gervasio MD, Travis Peck MD et al; Lippincott Williams&Wilkins; 8. Edition (2021)
  • EyeWiki – Solar Retinopathy
  • 1 retinagallery.com, Contributor: Steven M Cohen