Solar retinopathy: a new setting of red, green, and blue channels

To introduce a new color imaging technique using improved settings of red, green, and blue channels for improved delineation of retinal damage in patients with solar retinopathy.

A retrospective case series of patients with poor vision secondary to solar retinopathy were analyzed. All patients underwent visual acuity, refraction, and dilated fundus examination. A spectral domain-optical coherence tomography of the macula and color fundus imaging using optimized red, green, and blue color setting was performed. Patients were reviewed over a 6-month period. The data were analyzed for statistical significance using an independent t test and a receiver operating characteristic curve.

In total, 20 eyes of 10 patients were included between 2009 and 2017. The mean age was 24.9 ± 18.1 years. Best corrected visual acuity at first consultation was 0.78 ± 0.11 and after 6 months was 0.83 ± 0.09. Spectral domain-optical coherence tomography demonstrated retinal abnormalities at the myoid zone, ellipsoid zone, and the outer segment of photoreceptors. Receiver operating characteristic curve analysis showed an improving effect (area under the curve = 0.62; 95% confidence interval = 0.42-0.79). The color channels parameters, which improve visualization of the lesions were found to be 67-0.98-255 for the R-guided setting, 19-0.63-121 for the B-guided setting, and 7-1.00-129 for the G-guided setting. The ideal red, green, and blue setting was in 24-0.82-229.

The use of a new setting of red, green, and blue channels could improve the diagnosis and monitoring of solar retinopathy, hence improving patient care.