Subtle Solar Retinopathy Detected by Fourier-domain Optical Coherence Tomography

Solar retinopathy is a retinal injury caused by direct or indirect sun-gazing and solar eclipse observation without protection. Subtle changes in the retinal damage might not be evident on fundus photography and fluorescein angiography. A 40-year-old veteran suffered from paracentral scotoma in his left eye shortly after unprotected solar eclipse observation about 1 month earlier. His visual acuity was 6/5 in the right eye and 6/6 in the left. Anterior segments were normal bilaterally. Dilated fundus examination, fluorescein angiography, and central visual field testing did not reveal any abnormal findings. Fourier-domain optical coherence tomography was used for evaluation, and a focal defect in the inner and outer segments of the photoreceptor layer band was noted in the paracentral region of the fovea in the left eye, with central foveal thickness of 198 mu m. Solar retinopathy is preventable with adequate eye protection. Education should be reinforced to the public. In mildly affected individuals with subtle retinal damage, Fourier-domain optical coherence tomography could be a useful imaging tool to detect the disease. [J Chin Med Assoc 2010;73(7):396-398]