An Updated Review on the Most Common Agents Causing Toxic Optic Neuropathies

Title:An Updated Review on the Most Common Agents Causing Toxic Optic Neuropathies

Volume: 23 Issue: 4

Author(s): Weronika Wasinska-Borowiec, Kaveh Abri Aghdam, Jukka Matias Saari and Andrzej Grzybowski

Affiliation:

Keywords: Amiodarone, ethambutol, linezolid, methanol, phosphodiesterase 5 inhibitors, toxic optic neuropathy, tumor necrosis factor alpha inhibitors.

Abstract: Background: Toxic optic neuropathies (TONs) often present with a gradual and bilateral decrease in visual acuity, scotomas and optic disc pallor. Obtaining an accurate history is the critical first step in determining the etiology of TONs.

Methods: This updated review contains a thorough analysis of the current PubMed-indexed literature on the most common agents responsible for TONs, including methanol, ethambutol, amiodarone, linezolid, tumor necrosis factor alpha inhibitors and phosphodiesterase 5 inhibitors.

Results: The reviewed articles are mainly case reports presenting new and controversial aspects of the above agents. New treatment strategies, such as erythropoietin for methanol optic neuropathy, are being proposed for TONs, a condition that was previously regarded as untreatable.

Conclusion: TONs could cause significant disability due to visual impairment. In case of early diagnosis and drug withdrawal, most TONs are treatable. Patients need to be appropriately counseled, and prescribing physicians should be especially made aware of TON-inducing medications.

Cite this article as:

Wasinska-Borowiec Weronika, Aghdam Abri Kaveh, Saari Matias Jukka and Grzybowski Andrzej, An Updated Review on the Most Common Agents Causing Toxic Optic Neuropathies, Current Pharmaceutical Design 2017; 23 (4) . https://dx.doi.org/10.2174/1381612823666170124113826

DOI https://dx.doi.org/10.2174/1381612823666170124113826	Print ISSN 1381-6128
Publisher Name Bentham Science Publisher	Online ISSN 1873-4286