Transient Drug-Induced Myopia

Abstract

Myopia (nearsightedness) is a refractive error, a condition in which the cornea and lens of the nonaccommoding eye have too much plus power for the length of eye. As a result, images of distant objects are focused in front of the retina and thus appear blurred. Transient drug-induced myopia is a myopia induced by a drug as a transient side effect. Several case reports of transient drug-induced myopia have been reported. These cases have been associated with secondary angle closure glaucoma and other ocular conditions such as choroidal detachment, maculopathy, retinal folds. Drugs known to produce this effect include sulfa drugs and other medications. The possible mechanism is thought to be an allergic reaction to the drug. Both ciliary muscle contraction and ciliary body edema may play role in the pathomechanism. Differential diagnosis is made with a number of conditions, either ocular in origin or associated with an underlying systemic cause. Discontinuation of medications leads to complete resolution of the anatomic shift.