RESUMO
The potassium iodate toxicity in three patients who accidentally took an overdose of potassium iodate solution was reported. After ingesting the iodate solution in the oral dose of 187, 247 and 470.5 milligrams per kilogram body weight respectively. All patients had nausea vomiting and diarrhea. The visual loss developed within 2 to 20 hours later. All of the patients had visual acuities of hand motion in both eyes. The eye examination revealed retinal edema, hypopingment at macula with subsequent pigmentation at posterior pole and midperiphery of the fundus. The fluorescein angiogram and electroretinogram showed degenerative change of retinal pigment epithelium and photoreceptor cells. The visual acuity of the first case improved to 6/24 both eyes after 3 months.