PROSPECTIVE INCIDENCE OF PHOTIC MACULOPATHY AFTER CATARACT-SURGERY

PURPOSE/METHODS: To determine the incidence of photic retinal injury d uring cataract surgery, we studied 37 consecutive patients with intrav enous fluorescein angiography within ten days after cataract surgery. The microscope irradiance was standardized for all cases. RESULTS/CONC LUSIONS: Fluorescein evidence of photic retinal injury did not develop in any of the 37 cataract patients. Incidence rates for photic retina l injury induced by the surgical microscope vary considerably among op hthalmologists and most likely reflect differences in microscope brigh tness, surgical duration, and surgical technique.