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Chapter 10—What is That in the Macula?
  • Viewing the Macula
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  • Macular Disorders
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  • Macular Stars
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  • Other Macular Disorders
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    (A) This individual watched the sun rise Easter morning and presented with vision of 20/200.
    Photograph courtesy of Christopher Blodi, MD

    Solar Maculopathy

    SOLAR MACULOPATHY is a common cause of small macular holes. This maculopathy is frequent in military populations, sun eclipse watchers, solar telescope observers, and drug abusers. Patients report blurred vision, continuous after-image, scotomas, and reddening of the vision (erythropsia). What is viewed in the macula of solar maculopathy is a yellow-white foveolar spot acutely, which then becomes a small macular hole. Visual acuity frequently returns to normal or near normal.
    (B) This welder experienced an electrical explosion in front of his face. His visual acuity was reduced to 20/60 OU. His macula showed typical "solar" injury.
    Photographs and visual fields courtesy of WT Shults, MD
    (C) Left macula
    (D) Visual field showed bilateral central scotomas
    (E)
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