Purpose/methods: To determine the incidence of photic retinal injury during cataract surgery, we studied 37 consecutive patients with intravenous fluorescein angiography within ten days after cataract surgery. The microscope irradiance was standardized for all cases.
Results/conclusions: Fluorescein evidence of photic retinal injury did not develop in any of the 37 cataract patients. Incidence rates for photic retinal injury induced by the surgical microscope vary considerably among ophthalmologists and most likely reflect differences in microscope brightness, surgical duration, and surgical technique.