Development of optic neuropathy and foveal pseudocyst in a case of high-voltage electrical injury: A three-year follow-up

Abstract

A 35-year-old male patient had a decreased vision in his right eye, with a visual acuity of 20/400, after a high-voltage electrical injury. Corneal edema, Descemet’s membrane folds, cataract, macular hole, and optic neuropathy were detected in his right eye. Intravenous pulse steroids were administered. On the third day of treatment, the visual acuity in the right eye improved to 20/200 and the corneal edema resolved. Two months later, the patient’s visual acuity was still 20/200, while optic disc pallor, epiretinal gliosis, a non-full-thickness macular hole, and pseudo-cyst formation were detected in his right eye. Three years later, the macular pseudo-cyst formation transformed into an atrophic scar, while the patient’s visual acuity was the same. In conclusion, as a result of high-voltage electrical injury, serious ocular complications may develop. It is suffcient to refer those patients to an ophthalmologist for appropriate treatment and follow-up.