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ECLIPSE RETINOPATHY: A PROSPECTIVE SURVEY OF 52 CASES AFTER 11th AUGUST 1999 SOLAR ECLIPSE IN IRAN

Sezfollah Rezaei (Teheran)

In the event of total solar Eclipse occurred in 11 August 1999 in Shahrcord city located in the southeast of Iran (the study place) 52 cases referren complaining of early or late visual disturbances related to direct or indirect sun gazing. Most of the cases (48 patients) presented to my clinic with possible solar retinopathy. Each patient was given a full eye examination, including binocular microscopy of the fundus. Seven of the eclipse viewers had no visual symptoms or signs of damage. Of the remaining 41 patients, 20 complained of ocular discomfort, while 21 experienced blurred vision or scotoma near the point of fixation. In a 2 years follow up period 4 patient had a detectable retinal change were examined at one month and 4 months regularly, and only 2 cases are still on examination but with very least ocular sign, one case with mild RPE changes as window defect in FA, and one case of changing in macular reflex.

Many of the examined cases are still relating every visual disturbances to the eclipse visualisation unreasonably.

Contrary to popular belief the majority of people with eclipse retinopathy are not severly injured. People may injure their eyes by observing and gazing on the sun during an eclipse unless they take the precautions of only looking at the image reflected in the water or medium. The importance of not looking at the sun directly, either with the naked eye or an optical instrument cannot be stressed enough.


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