title: Choroidal neovascularization after accidental macular damage by laser.
abstract: A 30-year-old male physics professor was examined 2 months after being accidentally hit by a laser beam in his left eye. He complained of abrupt vision loss and central scotoma after the laser accident,with stabilization of the vision thereafter. At presentation, he presented best-corrected visual acuity of 6/18 in the left eye. Fundoscopy disclosed a slightly elevated foveal brownish lesion,surrounded by a subtle subretinal haemorrhage. Fluorescein angiography demonstrated a hyperfluorescent foveal lesion with staining and a slight leakage in the late phase, characterizing a fibrovascular choroidal neovascularization (CNV). Optical coherence tomography showed a discrete increase in retinal thickness and a subretinal fibrotic CNV. Visual acuity remained stable during the follow up(4 months). CNV after laser injury is rare. The evolution of this case suggests that CNV, after an accidental laser injury,in a healthy macula of a young patient might have a self-limited course and a relatively good prognosis.
authors.affiliation: São Geraldo Eye Hospital, Federal University of Minas Gerais and The Vision Institute, Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil.
authors.forename: Márciob
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Nehemy
authors.forename: Leonardo
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Torqueti-Costa
authors.forename: Erika P
authors.initials: EP
authors.lastname: Magalhães
authors.forename: Daniel Vítor
authors.initials: DV
authors.lastname: Vasconcelos-Santos
authors.forename: Ado Jório
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Vasconcelos
mesh_terms: D000062:Accidents, Occupational; D000328:Adult; D020256:Choroidal Neovascularization / Q000209:etiology*; D005131:Eye Injuries / Q000209:etiology*; D005451:Fluorescein Angiography; D006801:Humans; D007834:Lasers / Q000009:adverse effects*; D008297:Male; D012160:Retina / Q000293:injuries* / Q000473:pathology; D012166:Retinal Hemorrhage / Q000209:etiology; D012607:Scotoma / Q000209:etiology; D041623:Tomography, Optical Coherence; D014792:Visual Acuity