Solar retinopathy

Solar retinopathy is damage to the eye's retina, particularly the macula, from prolonged exposure to solar radiation. It usually occurs due to staring at the sun or viewing a solar eclipse.

Pathophysiology
Although it is frequently claimed that the retina is burned by looking at the sun, retinal damage appears to occur primarily due to photochemical injury rather than thermal injury .

Signs and symptoms

 * Reduced visual acuity.
 * Central scotoma.

Vision loss due to solar retinopathy is typically reversible, lasting for as short as one month to over one year.

Epidemiology
In a 1998 review of 26 patients with solar retinopathy, 60% reported a history of sungazing .