Tamoxifen retinopathy

doi:10.1136/bmjusa.01110006

BMJ, doi: 10.1136/bmjusa.01110006, (Published 4 September 2002)

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Tamoxifen retinopathy

This article originally appeared in BMJ USA

A 64 year old woman at routine follow up for glaucoma reported a few months' history of visual deterioration of both eyes.She had been taking tamoxifen 20 mg daily for eight years fora previously surgically excised breast adenocarcinoma. Funduscopyrevealed deposition of fine crystals at both maculae consistentwith tamoxifen maculopathy. This crystalline retinopathy is rarelyseen with standard doses of tamoxifen, but when present it cancause a substantial progressive drop in visual acuity. The incidenceof tamoxifen retinopathy is about 6% among patients who have takenthe drug for five years. Stopping treatment prevents further deteriorationbut rarely allows complete recovery of visual function.

Amar Alwitry, senior house officer.

Iain Gardner, consultant, department of ophthalmology.

Derbyshire Royal Infirmary, Derby DE1 2QY, UK

This item originally appeared in the October 20, 2001 issue of "BMJ" (323:944). Full text and related material are availableon BMJ 's web site, bmj.com

© BMJ 2002