Visual hallucinations immediately after macular photocoagulation

PURPOSE: To evaluate the incidence of visual hallucinations after macular p hotocoagulation for choroidal neo vascularization. METHODS: After macular photocoagulation for choroidal neovascularization, 6 0 consecutive patients were asked to respond to an orally administered ques tionnaire. RESULTS: Twenty-seven patients (45%) described photopsias, flashing lights of various colors, Ten additional patients (16.6%) also described structure d hallucinations, including known or unknown faces, flowers, and geometric patterns, which occurred hours or a few days after photocoagulation, Patien ts with structured hallucinations were older (P = .04) and more often had s ubfoveal choroidal neovascularization (P = .005) and severe macular disease in both eyes or at least in the treated eye (P = .01). CONCLUSIONS: Visual hallucinations appear to be a frequent, albeit unrecogn ized, side effect of macular photocoagulation of choroidal neovascularizati on, The provision of proper information to patients may avoid concern about a psychiatric origin of their hallucinations. (C) 2000 by Elsevier Science Inc. All rights reserved.