Bilateral retinal phototoxic injury during cataract surgery in a child.
The intense illumination of the operating microscope has been implicated in photic retinopathy in patients and in animal studies. We report a case of bilateral macular phototoxicity occurring in an eleven-year-old child who underwent bilateral cataract surgery for radiation cataracts. We are unaware of other reports of retinal toxicity occurring during pediatric cataract surgery. We hypothesize that this child may have been predisposed to macular injury because of previous chemotherapy and radiotherapy exposure. Ophthalmic surgeons should be aware that light toxicity from the operating microscope might also occur in the pediatric population.
Long
Vernon W
VW
Department of Ophthalmology, Leicester Royal Infirmary, Leicester, United Kingdom. vernon_long@hotmail.com
Woodruff
Geoffrey H
GH
D002386:Cataract / Q000209:etiology; D002387:Cataract Extraction; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D005451:Fluorescein Angiography; D006801:Humans; D007908:Lens, Crystalline / Q000528:radiation effects; D008027:Light / Q000009:adverse effects*; D008853:Microscopy / Q000009:adverse effects*; D054198:Precursor Cell Lymphoblastic Leukemia-Lymphoma / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000532:radiotherapy; D011832:Radiation Injuries / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology*; D012160:Retina / Q000528:radiation effects*; D012164:Retinal Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology*; D012607:Scotoma / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology; D014916:Whole-Body Irradiation / Q000009:adverse effects