[Solar retinopathy: clinical diagnosis and course : Retrospective analysis at a German university eye clinic]

Solar retinopathy is a rare form of phototoxic retinal damage caused by direct exposure to sunlight, typically associated with unprotected viewing of solar eclipses.

An analysis of clinical, morphological, and functional findings as well as characteristics of disease progression in patients with solar retinopathy.

Retrospective analysis of patients with solar retinopathy who were treated at the University Eye Clinic in Erlangen between 2014 and March 2026. The inclusion criterion was a diagnosis of solar retinopathy confirmed by medical history and clinical examination. The following data were recorded: demographic information, best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA), fundus findings, optical coherence tomography (OCT), treatment and clinical course.

The case series included 5 women and 3 men with a mean age of 29 years (range: 11-49 years). In half of the cases, exposure occurred during a solar eclipse; in the remaining cases, it involved other forms of unprotected direct sun exposure. Clinically, the patients presented with reduced visual acuity and central scotomas. The OCT revealed characteristic subfoveolar defects of the photoreceptors and the retinal pigment epithelium (RPE).,Functional and morphological improvement occurred over time in most cases; however, in isolated cases, structural foveal changes and subjective symptoms persisted.

The diagnosis of solar retinopathy relies primarily on a thorough medical history and clinical characteristics. Although the prognosis is generally favorable, symptoms can persist. In the absence of a causal treatment, prevention is essential, especially during solar eclipses.