Functional impairment with minimal macular damage in femtosecond laser plasma injury: case report

Abstract

A 26 years old female patient was examined twenty-four hours after observing laser-induced plasma formation in a process of nanoparticle production complaining of bilateral central scotoma. The ophthalmologic evaluation included dilated fundus observation, fluorescein angiography, and optical coherence tomography (OCT). In the first assessment, visual acuity was 20/20 in the right eye and 20/25 in the left eye. Ophthalmologic evaluation revealed colour changes in the macular region of both eyes. Optical coherence tomography showed a central interruption of the photoreceptor layer in both eyes and fluorescein angiography was normal. In subsequent appointments acuity was always 20/20 in both eyes. Abnormal optical coherence tomography findings disappeared in less than 5 months, but subjective complaints of scotoma in the left eye remained. Extra care must be taken in this type of experiment by, for example, reducing the time that the retina is directly exposed to the plasma radiation.