Light-induced damage of the retina through slit-lamp photography

Abstract 

Background: I report on two patients who suffered severe loss of visual acuity after slit-lamp photography of the anterior eye segment. Methods: Both patients were pseudophakic and pictures were taken to document the degree of posterior capsule opacification via retroillumination with dilated pupils. Both patients had excellent visual acuity at the time of photography was taken and experienced reduction of to hand movement afterwards. A Zeiss 75 SL device was used for the slit-lamp photography. In cooperation with Carl Zeiss Jena the slit lamp was investigated. Results: Ophthalmoscopy and angiography after photography discovered a central macular defect, similar to a photocoagulation. The visual acuity did not recover. Conclusion: Under certain circumstances slit-lamp photography of the anterior eye segment can lead to severe light-induced damage of the retina.