Multifocal electroretinogram and Optical Coherence tomography spectral-domain in arc welding macular injury: a case report.
BACKGROUND
the purpose of this study was to report a binocular photic retinal injury induced by plasma arc welding and the follow-up after treatment with vitamin supplements for a month. In our study, we used different diagnostic tools such as fluorescein angiography (FA), optical coherence tomography (OCT) and multifocal electroretinogram (mfERG).


METHODS
in the first visit after five days from arc welding injury in the left eye (LE) the visual acuity was 0.9 and 1.0 in the right eye (RE). FA was normal in both eyes. OCT in the left eye showed normal profile and normal reflectivity and one month later, a hyperreflectivity appeared in the external limiting membrane (ELM). The mfERG signal in the LE was 102.30 nV/deg2 five days after the injury and 112.62 nV/deg2 after one month and in the RE respectively 142.70 nV/deg2 and 159.46 nV/deg2.


CONCLUSIONS
in cases of retinal photo injury it is important for the ophthalmologist to evaluate tests such as OCT and the mfERG in the diagnosis and follow-up of the patient because the recovery of visual acuity cannot exclude the persistence of phototoxic damage charged to the complex inner-outer segment of photoreceptors.
Department of Specialistic Surgery and Anesthesiology Science, University Ophthalmology Unit, S Orsola Malpighi-Hospital, Pelagio Palagi 9, Bologna 40138, Italy. mauro.cellini@unibo.it
Mauro
M
Cellini
Roberto
R
Gattegna
Pier Giorgio
PG
Toschi
Ernesto
E
Strobbe
Emilio C
EC
Campos
D000062:Accidents, Occupational; D000328:Adult; D004596:Electroretinography / Q000379:methods*; D005126:Eye Burns / Q000175:diagnosis*; D006801:Humans; D008266:Macula Lutea / Q000293:injuries*; D008297:Male; D012164:Retinal Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis*; D041623:Tomography, Optical Coherence; D014792:Visual Acuity; D014896:Welding