PHOTIC MACULOPATHY BY ARC-WELDING

Background Phototoxic maculopathy most likely results from longer expo sure to light from sources such as the sun, welding arcs, tungsten hal ogen lamp filaments or operation microscopes. The value of the multifo cal ERG for the evaluation of functional defects in this rare entity h as not been described to date. Cases We describe the case of a 38-year -old male patient who presented to his local ophthalmologist with bila teral loss of vision and acute ocular pain after having worked for two hours at an electric welding are. A foveal lesion was found in both e yes, resulting in a bilateral reduction of visual acuity. Nine months later, the patient underwent examination and further investigations at the university eye clinic in Tubingen. Visual field defects on both s ides could be detected with automatic threshold perimetry. Using the m ultifocal ERG with a central element of 2 degrees diameter, a central defect was detected only for the right eye. Conclusions In rare cases, a photic maculopathy can result from exposure to light during are wel ding. It can be masked in the first days by a phototoxic keratitis. Mu ltifocal ERG and automatic perimetry are useful tools for the detectio n and quantification of the functional defects.