Ocular Findings Associated with Long-term Chlorpromazine Therapy

ABSTRACT

Chlorpromazine has been widely used as anti-psychosis drug in psychiatry and its prolonged intake can cause pathologic changes in skin and eye preferentially. We performed ocular examinations on 17 patients(34 eyes) who have received long-term chlorpromazine therapy. In slit lamp biomicroscopic examination, changes on periocular skin, conjunctiva and retina could rarely be seen. However, deep punctate or granular corneal opacities were seen in 10 eyes (29.4%), anterior subcapsular stellate cataracts were seen in 12 eyes (35.3%) and photosensitive conjunctival injections were seen in 6 eyes (17.6%). Secretory function of tear decreased in 30 eyes (88.2%). Conclusively, in treating patients who have above findings of anterior segment, careful history taking about long term drug intake and periodic follow up are recommended.