This 67YO female was referred for 3 weeks of vision loss in her left eye. Vision was 20/25 bilaterally.
The fundus photo is normal, but her OCT shows a focal area of hyperreflectivity interrupting the ellipsoid zone.
On further questioning, her symptoms developed while driving, immediately following a transformer explosion.
Learning Points:
The outer retinal damage in solar/welder’s retinopathy is thought to be caused by photochemical outer retinal and RPE damage instead of a thermal burn. Vision is usually fairly good despite the findings in the outer retina and RPE.
