Eye disorders during amiodarone treatment

Various ocular side effects can occur during amiodarone treatment: Corneal microdeposits, ocular changes connected with thyroid dysfunction, optic neuritis/optic neuropathy, scotoma, macular degeneration, photosensitivity, corneal degeneration. Very frequently (almost without exception) microdeposits form on the cornea when a sufficient tissue concentration of the medicinal product is reached.

These are generally localised beneath the pupil, asymptomatic and are not in any way a contraindication to continued treatment. They may be accompanied by the perception of coloured rings around dazzling lights or by blurred vision. These corneal microdeposits are made up of complex lipid structures and can be reversed on discontinuation of treatment.

In rare cases, serious optic neuritis/optic neuropathy may occur during amiodarone treatment, causing bilateral blindness and, as a result, discontinuation of treatment (Ref. 1).