Retinal phototoxicity after macular hole surgery in a patient under paclitaxel

BMC Ophthalmol. 2023 Aug 1;23(1):342. doi: 10.1186/s12886-023-03086-x.

Abstract

Background: The purpose is to report the second case, to our knowledge, of suspected paclitaxel-induced phototoxic maculopathy following pars plana vitrectomy surgery.

Case presentation: 63-year-old phakic female who underwent an uneventful phaco-vitrectomy to treat a complete macular hole, developing macular phototoxicity in the post-operatively period that could not be explained by the surgery itself and could only be attributed to a possible photosensitization induced by the previous use of paclitaxel.

Conclusions: The use of paclitaxel has been widely extended as a chemotherapy drug to treat breast cancer. It works by altering the intracellular microtubular reorganization and, based on this mechanism of action, photosensitivity has been previously described. We report a case of suspected paclitaxel-induced macular phototoxicity following ocular endoillumination during vitrectomy surgery.

Keywords: Macular phototoxicity; Paclitaxel; Vitrectomy.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Female
  • Humans
  • Middle Aged
  • Paclitaxel / adverse effects
  • Retina
  • Retinal Diseases* / surgery
  • Retinal Perforations* / diagnosis
  • Retinal Perforations* / surgery
  • Retrospective Studies
  • Tomography, Optical Coherence
  • Vitrectomy / adverse effects

Substances

  • Paclitaxel