Laser cutting machine-induced maculopathy and spontaneous recovery

Abstract

The thermal effects of laser cutting machines could damage the macula. A few studies in the literature have described macular injury induced by industrial laser burns. The aim of this study was to report the clinical, visual, and optical coherence tomography findings in a gold refinery worker with laser-induced maculopathy. A 21-year-old male gold refinery worker had vision loss in his right eye after using a laser cutting machine without wearing laser eye protection gear. At the first visit (24 h later), his best-corrected visual acuity was 7/10 in the right eye and 10/10 in the left eye. The anterior segment examination was normal. In fundus examination, focal, round, and yellowish lesion was detected within the fovea. The optical coherence tomography findings were foveal outer retinal disruptions and irregularities extending from the outer plexiform layer to the retina pigment epithelium. After 4 months, the best-corrected visual acuity had improved to 1.0, and the optical coherence tomography findings had resolved.