Ocular coherence tomography of symptomatic phototoxic retinopathy after cataract surgery: a case report

Abstract

IntroductionHigh-resolution ocular coherence computed tomography enables unprecedented visualization of the retinal microarchitecture. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report of high-resolution ocular coherence tomography findings in the healed form of photic post-cataract retinopathy.Case presentationA 76-year-old Caucasian man complained of paracentral scotoma, persisting for six weeks after cataract surgery.ConclusionOcular coherence tomography demonstrated a localized juxta-foveal area of retinal atrophy involving the photoreceptor layer, and the retinal pigment epithelium layer.

Outer retinal changes in endoilluminator‐induced phototoxic maculopathy evident on spectral‐domain optical coherence tomography

“…SD‐OCT findings of retinal phototoxicity by various light sources, including sunlight and operating microscopes, have been reported; however, to the best of our knowledge, there has been no report of an SD‐OCT finding of phototoxic retinal damage by an endoilluminator. In addition, OCT findings from previous reports vary slightly from our patient.…”

“…In the case of sunlight, only focal defects of the photoreceptor integrity line were noted on OCT . In the case of an operating microscope, SD‐OCT showed thinning of photoreceptor and retinal pigment epithelium six weeks after surgery …”

“…In the case of sunlight, only focal defects of the photoreceptor integrity line were noted on OCT. 1 In the case of an operating microscope, SD-OCT showed thinning of photoreceptor and retinal pigment epithelium six weeks after surgery. 3 The pathophysiology of the different OCT findings is not fully understood. The wavelength, power and exposure time of light may involve various clinical manifestations and affect the extent of retinal phototoxic damage.…”

“…Previous reports on solar retinopathy and welding arc retinopathy have demonstrated that pathologic changes are limited to the foveal area; 1 however, in cases of retinopathy due to operating microscopes, in which the pupil is dilated for the operation, the pathologic area tends to be larger than that in cases of solar and welding arc retinopathy. 3 Further studies are necessary to evaluate the pathophysiology of photochemical retinal damage associated with SD-OCT findings.…”

“…A variety of light sources, including sunlight, welding arcs, operation microscopes and endoilluminators can damage the retina. [1][2][3][4] The mechanism of this retinal damage is commonly thought to be a photochemical reaction on the photoreceptors and retinal pigment epithelium (RPE). 5 Phototoxic retinal changes are usually subtle and uncommon and they are difficult clinically to identify.…”