Retinal toxicity of amiodarone

ABSTRACT

Amiodarone, a benzofuran derivative, is one of the most effective cardiac anti-arrhythmic agents. We describe a patient in whom changes in the retinal pigment epithelium developed, most likely as a result of prolonged amiodarone treatment. We suggest that patients taking high doses of amiodarone for extended periods of time have fundus examinations regularly as well as fluorescein angiography if retinal changes are suspected, or if visual complaints arise. Amiodarone, a benzofuran derivative, is described as perhaps the most effective single anti-arrhythmic drug for the treatment of refractory supraventricular and ventricular cardiac arrhythmias. Some ocular complications, such as corneal microdeposits, have been recognized for many years, and optic neuropathy caused by amiodarone was recently described as well. We describe a patient in whom changes in the retinal pigment epithelium [RPE] developed, most likely as a result of prolonged treatment with amiodarone