Solar retinitis after minimal exposure.

Solar retinitis after prolonged or purposeful exposure to the sun has been reported many times. In this study, three patients were seen with the clinical diagnosis of solar retinitis but without an initial compatible history. Previously, such persons have frequently been categorized as having foveomacular retinitis. In this study, careful follow-up history was obtained in an attempt to find an origin for the condition of the patients. Evidence for very brief, high-intensity, and long-term low-intensity exposure to the sun's radiant energy was substantiated. Theoretical consideration was made of the mechanisms by which this type of exposure produced retinal damage.