Solar retinopathy: comparison of optical coherence tomography (OCT) and fluorescein angiography (FA).
OBJECTIVE
To compare optical coherence tomography with fluorescein angiography in 11 patients (21 eyes) with central foveal damage from solar retinopathy.


METHODS
Retrospective, observational case series of 11 patients with solar retinopathy. Dilated funduscopic examination was performed as well as photographic, fluorescein angiography, optical coherence tomography, and Humphrey visual field assessment.


RESULTS
Significant foveal pathology was identified in each of the 21 eyes (11 patients). Visual acuity in affected eyes ranged from 20/25 to 20/200. Optical coherence tomography demonstrated foveal atrophy associated with a characteristic defect at the level of the inner and outer segment junction of the photoreceptors in all 21 affected eyes, whereas fluorescein angiography identified classic window defects in 19 eyes (10 of 11 patients). There was a modest correlation between foveal thickness and visual acuity.


CONCLUSIONS
Fluorescein angiography did not detect lesions characteristic of solar retinopathy in all patients with a definitive history of sungazing and visual loss. Conversely, optical coherence tomography did detect significant foveal atrophy in all affected eyes and a characteristic defect at the photoreceptor-retinal pigment epithelium junction. Optical coherence tomography improves the diagnosis and assessment of the degree and nature of foveal damage in patients with solar retinopathy and may be an important tool in identifying foveal damage not detected by standard fluorescein angiography.
Jain
Atul
A
Jules Stein Eye Institute, David Geffen/UCLA School of Medicine, Los Angeles, California 90095, USA.
Desai
Rajen U
RU
Charalel
Resmi A
RA
Quiram
Polly
P
Yannuzzi
Lawrence
L
Sarraf
David
D
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D005260:Female; D005451:Fluorescein Angiography; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010781:Photography; D011832:Radiation Injuries / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology; D012160:Retina / Q000528:radiation effects*; D012164:Retinal Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013472:Sunlight / Q000009:adverse effects*; D041623:Tomography, Optical Coherence; D014794:Visual Fields