Solar retinopathy

319 patients with a solar retinopathy were seen in an eye clinic in Nepal w ithin 20 months. All patients had either a positive history of sun-gazing o r typical circumscribed scars in the foveal area. In more than 80% of the p atients the visual acuity was 6/12 or better and did not deteriorate over t ime. 126 (40%) patients had a history of gazing at the sun during an eclips e, 33 (10%) were sun worshipers and 4 (1%) were in both categories. Three y ears later 29 patients were re-examined in a follow-up study. Only 16 had h ad visual disturbances directly after they had gazed into the sun. No colou r vision defects were seen in any of the 44 affected eyes, when tested with Panel D 15, while four patients (6 eyes) had some uncertainty with the tri tan plates of the Ishihara test charts. Metamorphopsia were recorded in 11 eyes. Five German patients with solar retinopathy were examined in more det ail. Colour contrast sensitivity (CCS) was tested for the central and the p eripheral visual field. CCS for tritan axis was raised in all patients for the central visual field, while it was normal for the peripheral visual fie ld.