Central scotoma following phacoemulsification surgery: A case report on retinal phototoxicity

TL;DR

A 59-year-old man developed a temporary central scotoma after cataract surgery, likely due to retinal phototoxicity, which improved over three months.

Contribution

This case report highlights retinal phototoxicity as a rare complication of phacoemulsification surgery.

Findings

The patient experienced a central scotoma post-surgery, with imaging showing outer retinal disruption.

The scotoma resolved in three months, with only minor retinal irregularity remaining.

The case underscores the potential for phototoxicity despite uneventful surgical procedures.

Abstract

Phacoemulsification cataract surgery is a widely adopted, however despite its routine application and favorable outcomes, it is not devoid of risks. Complications are rare, with an even more infrequent occurrence of retinal phototoxicity. This case report delves into an instance of retinal phototoxicity in a 59-year-old Caucasian male following an uneventful phacoemulsification and intraocular lens implantation. Postoperatively, he experienced a small, central scotoma. Imaging revealed a small disruption in the outer retinal layers (subfoveal). In three months’ time, his central scotoma disappeared and the imaging showed improvement with only a minor outer retinal irregularity being present. This paper presents the case and discusses the risk factors to develop phototoxicity after phacoemulsification.

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