Macular hole caused by intense pulsed light: a case report

Area of Science:

• Ophthalmology
• Retinal Surgery
• Ocular Trauma

Background:

• Intense pulsed light (IPL) exposure can lead to rare but severe macular holes.
• A case report details a 30-year-old male with vision loss after accidental IPL exposure without eye protection.
• Initial presentation included reduced visual acuity and a large full-thickness macular hole with retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) disruption.

Purpose of the Study:

• To report a case of intense pulsed light-induced macular hole.
• To analyze the surgical outcomes and functional recovery in such cases.
• To underscore the importance of protective measures during IPL use.

Main Methods:

• A patient with IPL-induced macular hole was treated surgically.
• Surgical intervention involved pars plana vitrectomy with internal limiting membrane peeling and air tamponade.
• Optical coherence tomography (OCT) was used for diagnosis and follow-up.

Main Results:

• The macular hole achieved anatomical closure 7 days after surgery.
• Despite anatomical closure, best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) remained poor (20/200) at 1 month.
• Persistent photoreceptor inner/outer segment (IS/OS) discontinuity and RPE defects contributed to the lack of functional recovery.

Conclusions:

• IPL can cause large macular holes, potentially associated with retinal traction.
• Early surgical intervention may not restore vision if photoreceptor and RPE integrity are compromised.
• Mandatory use of eye protection during IPL handling is crucial to prevent ocular injury.