Solar Retinopathy in a Young Nigerian Patient.

Source: PubMed, NCBI / U.S. National Library of Medicine

Solar retinopathy (SR) is less commonly documented in Sub-Saharan Africa, although it can affect individuals worldwide. We present a case of SR in a young Nigerian patient with mental health issues who experienced visual impairment after prolonged repeated gazing at the sun without protective eyewear. Visual acuities were 6/12 in both eyes, with no improvement with refraction. Optical coherence tomography (OCT) of the macular showed preservation of the foveal contour but central subfoveal cystic changes with fragmentation of the ellipsoid and interdigitating zones in both eyes; the external limiting membrane was intact in the right but fragmented in the left. The patient is being co-managed with his psychiatrist.