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Bilateral solar maculopathy in a patient with bipolar disorder
J Sánchez-Quirós1, O Rodríguez-Quet1, D Rego-Lorca1
1Servicio de Oftalmología, Hospital Clinico San Carlos, Madrid, España.
Archivos De La Sociedad Espanola De Oftalmologia
|December 29, 2020
Summary
A man with bipolar disorder developed solar maculopathy after prolonged sun gazing. This condition caused stable visual acuity reduction by damaging the retinal photoreceptor layer.
Area of Science:
- Ophthalmology
- Neuroscience
Background:
- Solar maculopathy results from direct solar radiation exposure.
- Bipolar disorder decompensation can lead to risky behaviors, including prolonged sun gazing.
Observation:
- A 36-year-old male with bipolar disorder presented with visual acuity of 0.3 in both eyes after staring at the sun for hours.
- Fundus examination revealed a perimacular halo and loss of foveolar reflex.
- Optical coherence tomography showed disruption of the ellipsoid line and retinal pigment epithelium.
Findings:
- Bilateral central visual field defects were confirmed using Humphrey 24-2 visual field testing.
- The visual acuity and clinical presentation remained stable at a 6-month follow-up.
Implications:
- This case highlights the severe visual consequences of solar maculopathy, even in individuals with pre-existing mental health conditions.
- Understanding the link between psychiatric decompensation and phototoxic eye injury is crucial for patient management and prevention strategies.
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