Abstract

High altitude retinopathy refers to pathological retinal changes affecting unacclimatised individuals at altitudes ≥ 2500 meters; as a result of hypobaric hypoxia. Solar retinopathy refers to retinal photochemical injury resulting from prolonged or high intensity light exposure usually associated with sungazing or eclipse viewing. Solar retinopathy can also be seen in high altitude due to reflection of solar radiation and ultraviolet light from snow. Hereby we present an unique case of high altitude and Solar retinopathy.
A 37 year old male presented with sudden diminution of vision, one week after a high altitude trek of Eastern Himalayas. Dilated fundus revealed multiple sub retinal hemorrhages with focal disruption at the level of sub foveal Retinal Pigment Epithelium (RPE) on SD-OCT. He was diagnosed as High altitude retinopathy with associated solar retinopathy and kept on observation. At 3 months the haemorrhages had resolved but the visual deficit remained.