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Updated: Dec 21, 2025
Author Spotlight: Ex Vivo OCT-Based Multimodal Imaging of Human Donor Eyes for Research into Age-Related Macular Degeneration
Published on: May 26, 2023
Rapid response to systemic steroid in macular alexandrite laser exposure: Multimodal imaging
Melike Balikoglu-Yilmaz1, Mahmut Kaya2, Murat Erbezci3
1Department of Ophthalmology, Faculty of Medicine, Izmir Katip Çelebi University, Izmir, Turkey.
Purpose:
To report the management of accidental macular photocoagulation during a 750-nm Alexandrite laser hair removal procedure.
Methods:
Single case report with images.
Results:
A 23-year-old girl presented with an immediate visual field defect in her right eye after direct inadvertent exposure to a single discharge from a 750-nm Alexandrite laser used for laser hair removal. Baseline Snellen visual acuity was 20/20 in the involved right eye but the patient reported a subjective visual field defect. She was treated with oral methylprednisolone that was started at a dose of 1 mg/kg/day and then gradually reduced. Six months after the initial exposure, the final visual acuity was 20/20 and there was a significant improvement in the macular lesion. However, the subjective visual field defect continued. She underwent multimodal retinal imaging with optical coherence tomography, fundus fluorescence angiography, and optical coherence tomography angiography in addition to a visual field test and microperimety.
Conclusion:
The present case documents a gradual visual and anatomical improvement following macular photic damage after accidental occupational exposure to a 750-nm Alexandrite laser. The treatment should be arranged according to the localization of the laser damage. Optical coherence tomography angiography also has the potential to help noninvasively detect choriocapillaris damage.
