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Suggest Treatment For Thermal Injury To The Macular Region Of The Retina
Question: Hi
My father is 62 years old and a scientist by profession. While performing an experiment in his lab his right eye was hit by infrared rays, the doctor has informed us that the the central part of the retina has been burnt, particularly the macular region . As there is inflammation and internal bleeding , the doctors have prescribed Wysolone for one week. Currently he is unable to see, he says there is a kind of impairment in his vision and the doctors also have given up and have informed us that his vision will either be blurred or there would be loss of vision in the center of the visual field. Could you please let me know if this is true or is there any treatment available to get back his vision.
My father is 62 years old and a scientist by profession. While performing an experiment in his lab his right eye was hit by infrared rays, the doctor has informed us that the the central part of the retina has been burnt, particularly the macular region . As there is inflammation and internal bleeding , the doctors have prescribed Wysolone for one week. Currently he is unable to see, he says there is a kind of impairment in his vision and the doctors also have given up and have informed us that his vision will either be blurred or there would be loss of vision in the center of the visual field. Could you please let me know if this is true or is there any treatment available to get back his vision.
Brief Answer:
He is having photoretinitis.
Detailed Answer:
Hello
Welcome to Health care Magic
Iam Dr. Dadapeer K, an Ophthalmologist and I answer health problems related to eye.
It seems from the history that your father had injury to the eye by infra red rays and examination by eye doctor has reveled thermal injury to the macular region of the retina.
It is very unfortunate event and it is known to cause damage to the retinal pigment epithelium and the extent of damage depends on the intensity of infra red rays and duration of exposure. This is called as photoretinitis.The final result in terms of vision loss or distortion of vision depends on the amount of damage to the retinal pigment epithelium.
Most of them may heal with complete or partial recovery of vision and this depends on the extent of damage.
Your doctor is right in saying that his vision will be blurred or may cause central black spot called as scotoma.
But not to loose hope, this happens in severe cases. Since he is having inflammation and internal bleeding the treatment by use of steroids like wysolone is correct.
But he is required undergo investigations like optical coherence tomography and fundus fluorescein angiography to assess the extent of edema and damage caused by the injury.
The next treatment can be done in the form of laser photocoagulation or by use of anti inflammatory drugs like steroids or by use of intravitreal antiinflammatory drugs.
Hence I advice you to consult a retinal specialist for evaluation and further advice.
But usually severe photoretinitis is known to leave behind some amount of loss of vision or distortion of vision.
Hope the information is helpful to you.
Thank you
With regards
He is having photoretinitis.
Detailed Answer:
Hello
Welcome to Health care Magic
Iam Dr. Dadapeer K, an Ophthalmologist and I answer health problems related to eye.
It seems from the history that your father had injury to the eye by infra red rays and examination by eye doctor has reveled thermal injury to the macular region of the retina.
It is very unfortunate event and it is known to cause damage to the retinal pigment epithelium and the extent of damage depends on the intensity of infra red rays and duration of exposure. This is called as photoretinitis.The final result in terms of vision loss or distortion of vision depends on the amount of damage to the retinal pigment epithelium.
Most of them may heal with complete or partial recovery of vision and this depends on the extent of damage.
Your doctor is right in saying that his vision will be blurred or may cause central black spot called as scotoma.
But not to loose hope, this happens in severe cases. Since he is having inflammation and internal bleeding the treatment by use of steroids like wysolone is correct.
But he is required undergo investigations like optical coherence tomography and fundus fluorescein angiography to assess the extent of edema and damage caused by the injury.
The next treatment can be done in the form of laser photocoagulation or by use of anti inflammatory drugs like steroids or by use of intravitreal antiinflammatory drugs.
Hence I advice you to consult a retinal specialist for evaluation and further advice.
But usually severe photoretinitis is known to leave behind some amount of loss of vision or distortion of vision.
Hope the information is helpful to you.
Thank you
With regards
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Hello Doctor,
Thank you for the reply. We have consulted an expert and got the optical coherence tomography done. They have been telling us that unless the inflammation reduces they will not be able let us know the extent of damage, so we are waiting for the inflammation to reduce. I am attaching the scan for your analysis. Please let me know your view.
Thank you for the reply. We have consulted an expert and got the optical coherence tomography done. They have been telling us that unless the inflammation reduces they will not be able let us know the extent of damage, so we are waiting for the inflammation to reduce. I am attaching the scan for your analysis. Please let me know your view.
Brief Answer:
The treatment advised by your doctor is right.
Detailed Answer:
Hello Sir,
Thank you for the follow up query.
I went through the OCT (ocular coherence tomography) report attached with the query and it is showing retinal hemorrhage on and in the retina.
The injury appears to be severe as it is involving the full thickness of retina and complete view is not available as it obscured by the hemorrhage.
But not to worry once the inflammation and the hemorrhage reduces the exact picture will be seen and depending on that the next mode of treatment can be done. Since it is involving the exact centre of the macula called as fovea, it is more likely to cause a central scotoma.
Hence as of now he needs to continue wysolone tablets which will help in reducing the edema and inflammation and once these subside he need to undergo repeat examination to find out the exact extent of damage and treatment can be planned accordingly.
The treatment and the investigations done by your doctor are in right direction and do attend the follow up after 1 week as advised.
Hope the information is helpful.
Thank you
With regards
The treatment advised by your doctor is right.
Detailed Answer:
Hello Sir,
Thank you for the follow up query.
I went through the OCT (ocular coherence tomography) report attached with the query and it is showing retinal hemorrhage on and in the retina.
The injury appears to be severe as it is involving the full thickness of retina and complete view is not available as it obscured by the hemorrhage.
But not to worry once the inflammation and the hemorrhage reduces the exact picture will be seen and depending on that the next mode of treatment can be done. Since it is involving the exact centre of the macula called as fovea, it is more likely to cause a central scotoma.
Hence as of now he needs to continue wysolone tablets which will help in reducing the edema and inflammation and once these subside he need to undergo repeat examination to find out the exact extent of damage and treatment can be planned accordingly.
The treatment and the investigations done by your doctor are in right direction and do attend the follow up after 1 week as advised.
Hope the information is helpful.
Thank you
With regards
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Answered by
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