Aripiprazole induced transient myopia: a case report and review of literature

Aripiprazole is a drug belonging to the group of atypical antipsychotics. Ocular side effects of aripiprazole are rare. We report a case of transient myopia in a 33-year-old male who was being treated for schizophrenia with oral quetiapine and was recently supplemented with aripiprazole. One month after the addition of aripiprazole the patient reported sudden onset painless blurring of vision in both eyes. He was found to have myopia of-3.0 diopters in both eyes; his corrected visual acuity being 20/20. He was advised to discontinue aripiprazole. Ten days later on examination, the patient had an uncorrected visual acuity of 20/20 in both eyes. The stoppage of symptoms on stopping the drug indicates a strong correlation between the drug and the adverse effect. Ophthalmologists and psychiatrists must be aware of this reversible adverse drug reaction, so it may be treated promptly.