DRUG-INDUCED OCULOTOXICITY
- Occasionally, non-specific blurred vision occurs with almost all the drugs.
- The drugs listed below are associated with a specific pattern of drug-induced oculotoxicity when administered systemically:
1. Allopurinol:
Despite the discovery of Allopurinol in cataractous lenses taken from patients on long term (>2 years) therapy, there is no clinical evidence for an increased risk of cataracts in allopurinol-treated patients.
2. Beta-Adrenergic Blocking Agents:
- A reduction in tear production occurs, which can produce a hot, dry, gritty sensation in the eyes.
- This is rapidly reversible with drug discontinuation.
3. Contraceptives, (Oral):
- A variety of retinal vascular disorders have been occurred due to oral contraceptives, but the association remains unproved.
- Some oral contraceptives users cannot tolerate contact lenses, possibly because of ocular edema or dryness. However, a prospective study failed to show any difference in lens tolerance between oral contraceptive users and non-users.
4. Sympathomimetic Agents:
- These drugs can dilate the pupil and precipitate narrow-angle glaucoma.
- Sympathomimetics with marked alpha-adrenergic activity Epinephrine, Phenylpropanolamine, should be avoided.
- Large doses taken orally, or the drugs applied topically are at higher risk.
5. Gold Salts:
- Parenteral gold can produce microscopic crystalline deposits in the cornea, most commonly in superficial layers.
- These deposits are dose-related and rarely occur until the dosage of parenteral gold exceeds 1g.
- The deposits slowly resolve after drug discontinuation, do not affect vision.
- Auranofin does not produce these ocular effects.
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