Solar retinopathy: visual prognosis in 20 cases.

A report of 20 cases of solar retinopathy associated with watching an eclipse of the sun is presented. Visual prognosis was generally good and most patients had good vision at the end of six months. Paramacular scotomata, image distortion and macular changes were, however, still present in the majority of patients. Transmission of energy through various protective devices was measured with a fluxmeter. The finding of retinal damage after exposure of even short duration through protective devices that reduce the incident irradiance of the sun up to 5,000 times indicates that the damage observed may be other than thermal in nature. It is concluded that no safe method for directly viewing a solar eclipse is generally available, and that the public, especially schoolchildren and their children, should be better acquainted with this hazard.