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Laser-Induced Maculopathy Masquerading as Hereditary Macular Dystrophy
Fadwa Al Adel1, Abdulrahman F AlBloushi2
1Department of Ophthalmology, College of Medicine, Princess Nourah Bint Abdulrahman University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
Middle East African Journal of Ophthalmology
|February 7, 2022
Summary
Misuse of laser pointers can cause permanent vision loss, mimicking genetic eye conditions. Early diagnosis with imaging is crucial to prevent further vision damage.
Area of Science:
- Ophthalmology
- Medical Imaging
Background:
- Handheld laser pointers are increasingly misused, leading to permanent macular injury.
- Laser-induced maculopathy can present with symptoms similar to hereditary retinal dystrophies.
Observation:
- A 27-year-old woman presented with bilateral, progressive vision loss over 2 months.
- Fundus examination revealed bilateral creamy-to-gray irregular lesions in the posterior pole.
- Initial diagnosis elsewhere was hereditary macular dystrophy.
Findings:
- Multimodal imaging of the retina suggested self-inflicted laser-induced maculopathy.
- The patient was referred for psychiatric evaluation with a working diagnosis of factitious disorder.
Implications:
- A high index of suspicion and multimodal imaging are vital for accurate diagnosis.
- Early and correct diagnosis can prevent further vision loss in cases of laser-induced maculopathy.
- This case highlights the importance of considering non-hereditary causes in macular dystrophies.
