Photic retinopathy
Photic retinopathy is damage to the eye's retina, particularly the macula, from prolonged exposure to solar radiation or other bright light, e.g., lasers or arc welders.
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The term includes solar, laser, and welder's retinopathy and is synonymous with retinal phototoxicity.
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The term includes solar, laser, and welder's retinopathy and is synonymous with retinal phototoxicity.
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Retinal damage occurs primarily due to photochemical injury rather than thermal injury.
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retinal damage appears to occur primarily due to photochemical injury rather than thermal injury
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The temperature rise from looking at the Sun with a 3-mm pupil is insufficient to photocoagulate.
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The temperature rise from looking at the Sun with a 3-mm pupil only causes a 4 °C increase in temperature, insufficient to photocoagulate.
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Light promotes oxidation causing chemical reactions in exposed tissues with unbonded oxygen molecules.
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since light promotes oxidation, chemical reactions occur in the exposed tissues with unbonded oxygen molecules
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Central serous retinopathy can result from depression in a treated solar damaged eye.
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central serous retinopathy can be a result of a depression in a treated solar damaged eye
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Duration of exposure necessary to cause injury varies with light intensity and affects recovery.
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The duration of exposure necessary to cause injury varies with the intensity of light, and also affects the possibility and length of recovery.
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Long-term reduced eyesight
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Long-term reduced eyesight
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Central or paracentral scotoma
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Central or paracentral scotoma
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Patients may notice a spot that does not go away or blurring.
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a spot that does not go away after a reasonable recovery time, or blurring
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Eye pain or headaches may occur.
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They may also have eye pain or headaches.
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Vision impairment is usually in both eyes but can be in just one.
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Vision impairment is usually in both eyes, but can be in just one.
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Impairment of a person with 20/20 vision usually ends up being about 20/40 or 20/60.
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Impairment of a person with 20/20 vision usually ends up being about 20/40 or 20/60, but can be better or far worse.
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A doctor may see no signs at all or a slight macular edema.
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A doctor examining an eye with retinopathy may be able to see no signs at all, or a slight macular edema
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Fundus changes are variable and usually bilateral; mild cases show no alteration.
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The fundus changes are variable and usually bilateral, mild cases often show no alteration
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Moderate to severe cases show a foveal yellow spot on the first days after exposure.
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moderate to severe cases show a foveal yellow spot on the first days after exposure
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After a few days the yellow spot is replaced by a reddish dot often surrounded by pigment.
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After a few days it is replaced by a reddish dot often surrounded by pigment.
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Within a few days the patient develops discoloration of the retina, often yellow or white, turning red over weeks.
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within a few days the patient will generally develop a discoloration of the retina at the injured point, often yellow or white, turning red over the next few weeks
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Photic retinopathy generally goes away on its own over time with no reliable treatment to speed recovery.
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Photic retinopathy generally goes away on its own over time, but there is no specific treatment known to be reliable for speeding recovery.
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Corticosteroids may be attempted to treat initial macular edema, with unclear results.
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One path sometimes attempted, which has unclear results, is to treat the initial macular edema with corticosteroids
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Permanent holes and lesions are possible.
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Permanent holes and lesions are possible
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Prognosis worsens with dilated pupils or prolonged exposure.
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prognosis worsens with dilated pupils or prolonged exposure
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More severe cases may not see complete recovery at all.
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more severe cases may take longer, or not see complete recovery at all
People diagnosed with photic retinopathy generally recover visual acuity completely within two months, though more severe cases may take longer or not see complete recovery at all. Permanent holes and lesions are possible; prognosis worsens with dilated pupils or prolonged exposure.
| Photic retinopathy | |
|---|---|
| Other names | Foveomacular retinitis Solar retinopathy |
| Specialty | Ophthalmology |
Photic retinopathy is damage to the eye's retina, particularly the macula, from prolonged exposure to solar radiation or other bright light, e.g., lasers or arc welders. The term includes solar, laser, and welder's retinopathy and is synonymous with retinal phototoxicity.[1]
Vision loss due to solar retinopathy is typically reversible,[4] lasting for as short as one month[2] to over one year.[3] The fundus changes are variable and usually bilateral, mild cases often show no alteration and moderate to severe cases show a foveal yellow spot on the first days after exposure. After a few days it is replaced by a reddish dot often surrounded by pigment.[citation needed]
Permanent holes and lesions are possible; prognosis worsens with dilated pupils or prolonged exposure.[citation needed]
Although it is frequently claimed that the retina is burned by looking at the Sun, retinal damage appears to occur primarily due to photochemical injury rather than thermal injury. The temperature rise from looking at the Sun with a 3-mm pupil only causes a 4 °C increase in temperature, insufficient to photocoagulate. The energy is still phototoxic: since light promotes oxidation, chemical reactions occur in the exposed tissues with unbonded oxygen molecules.[1] It also appears that central serous retinopathy can be a result of a depression in a treated solar damaged eye.[4][5][6]
The duration of exposure necessary to cause injury varies with the intensity of light, and also affects the possibility and length of recovery.[citation needed]
A person with photic retinopathy may notice an impairment in their vision, for example a spot that does not go away after a reasonable recovery time, or blurring. They may also have eye pain or headaches. Vision impairment is usually in both eyes, but can be in just one. Impairment of a person with 20/20 vision usually ends up being about 20/40 or 20/60, but can be better or far worse.[7]
A doctor examining an eye with retinopathy may be able to see no signs at all, or a slight macular edema, which is a sort of blister on or under the macula, an oval colored spot normally visible to an eye doctor on each person's retina.[citation needed]
But while even that edema goes away, within a few days the patient will generally develop a discoloration of the retina at the injured point, often yellow or white, turning red over the next few weeks.[citation needed]
Photic retinopathy generally goes away on its own over time, but there is no specific treatment known to be reliable for speeding recovery. One path sometimes attempted, which has unclear results, is to treat the initial macular edema with corticosteroids.[7]
- 1 2 Mainster, Martin A; Turner, Patricia L. (2006). "Retinal Injuries from Light: Mechanisms, Hazards, and Prevention". Retina (4 ed.). Elsevier Mosby. pp. 1857-70.
- 1 2 3 Sefic-Kasumovic, S; Firdus, H; Alimanovic, E; Ljaljevic, S; Sefic, M (2000). "[Eye injuries caused by an eclipse of the sun]". Med. Arh. 54 (1): 41–4. PMID 10872275.
- 1 2 3 Kallmark, FP; Ygge, J (Oct 2005). "Photo-induced foveal injury after viewing a solar eclipse". Acta Ophthalmol Scand. 83 (5): 586–9. doi:10.1111/j.1600-0420.2005.00511.x. PMID 16187997.
- 1 2 Chen, JC; Lee, LR (Nov 2004). "Solar retinopathy and associated optical coherence tomography findings" (PDF). Clin Exp Optom. 87 (6): 390–3. doi:10.1111/j.1444-0938.2004.tb03100.x. PMID 15575813. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2006-09-27.
- ↑ Dobson, R (Aug 1999). "UK hospitals assess eye damage after solar eclipse". BMJ. 319 (7208): 469. doi:10.1136/bmj.319.7208.469. PMC 1116382. PMID 10454393.
- ↑ Hunyor, AB (Nov 1987). "Solar retinopathy: its significance for the ageing eye and the younger pseudophakic patient". Aust N Z J Ophthalmol. 15 (4): 371–5. doi:10.1111/j.1442-9071.1987.tb00098.x. PMID 3435680.
- 1 2 3 "Solar Retinopathy: Etiology, Diagnosis, and Treatment". Archived from the original on 2019-12-24. Retrieved 2017-12-08.
- ↑ Solar Retinopathy — American Academy of Ophthalmology