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

Background: I report on two patients who suffered severe loss of visual acu ity after slit-lamp photography of the anterior eye segment. Methods: Both patients were pseudophakic and pictures were taken to document the degree o f 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 angi ography after photography discovered a central macular defect, similar to a photocoagulation. The visual acuity did not recover. Conclusion: Under cer tain circumstances slit-lamp photography of the anterior eye segment can le ad to severe light-induced damage of the retina.