Bilateral Photic Maculopathy Following Pterygium Excision: Spectral Domain Optical Coherence Tomography Findings

PURPOSE To report high resolution spectral domain optical coherence tomography (SD-OCT) findings in a case with bilateral photic maculopathy and resultant central scotoma following pterygium excision. CASE REPORT A 38-year-old man with a history of pterygium excision complained of visual disturbance and annoying central scotoma in both eyes. Although he had subtle funduscopic and angiographic changes, SD-OCT precisely showed disruption of the photoreceptors inner segment/outer segment in the foveal center. CONCLUSION Phototoxic macular damage following ocular surgeries may be diagnosed with difficulty due to subtle funduscopic findings. SD-OCT is a precise imaging in revealing characteristic retinal alterations in different foveal injuries. Ophthalmologists should be aware of the possibility of photic maculopathy following various ophthalmic operations including pterygium surgery.