[Light-induced maculopathy in cataract surgery].

CASE REPORT: Case 1: An 82-year-old man who underwent an uncomplicated phacoemulsification and IOL implantation (Tecnis Z 9000 lens) in his right eye under topical anaesthesia. Surgery lasted 14 minutes. Case 2: A 60-year-old woman with bilateral advanced primary open angle glaucoma who underwent an uncomplicated phacoemulsification and IOL implantation (Tecnis Z 9000 lens) in her right eye under peribulbar anaesthesia. Surgery lasted 36 minutes. One month after surgery both patients noted a para-central scotoma and impaired vision. Fluorescein angiography in both cases revealed retinal pigment epithelial changes compatible with intra-operative light-induced maculopathy.

DISCUSSION: Light-induced maculopathy has been reported following cataract surgery. Whether physical properties of these new polysiloxane lenses contribute to retinal susceptibility to phototoxicity under certain light conditions needs to be elucidated.