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Photic maculopathy after pterygium excision
K O Karp1, T P Flood, A L Wilder
1Department of Ophthalmology, Rush Medical College of Rush University, Chicago, Illinois, USA.
Purpose:
To report a patient who developed photic maculopathy after pterygium removal.
Methods:
A 27-year-old woman underwent pterygium removal with a conjunctival autograft after administration of retrobulbar anesthesia. A coaxial operating microscope was used, with an estimated retinal exposure of approximately 40 minutes.
Results:
On the first postoperative day, the patient noted a paracentral scotoma. A fluorescein angiogram on the fourth postoperative day documented a phototoxic lesion in the macula.
Conclusions:
Phototoxic injury to the macula may occur after pterygium removal. Ophthalmologists should take precautions to minimize prolonged intense coaxial illumination of the retina while performing any ocular microsurgery.