Question:

Photoretinitis is due to?

Show Hint

Think of the classic warning against looking directly at an eclipse.
Updated On: Jun 24, 2026
  • Snow reflection
  • Solar eclipse
  • Blunt trauma
  • None of the above
Show Solution
collegedunia
Verified By Collegedunia

The Correct Option is B

Solution and Explanation

Step 1: Photoretinitis is damage to the retina caused by looking at intense light without protection. The classic setting is watching a solar eclipse, religious sun gazing, or solar telescopy.

Step 2: The injury is a photochemical reaction. The harmful part of the spectrum is short-wavelength visible light (blue and violet-blue), with a small contribution from UV-A. It is therefore also called blue-light retinal injury. Infrared rays are NOT the main cause.

Step 3: Clinically the patient has a persistent after-image that later becomes a positive scotoma, with metamorphopsia. The fovea may look normal at first, or show a pale spot with a brownish-red ring, later progressing to pigment deposits or even a macular hole.

Step 4: Snow reflection causes photokeratitis (snow blindness), a corneal injury, not retinal. Blunt trauma causes commotio retinae, a different mechanism. So the best answer is solar eclipse.
Was this answer helpful?
0
0