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Updated: May 24, 2026
06:49
The Rodent Model of Nonarteritic Anterior Ischemic Optic Neuropathy (rNAION)
Published on: November 20, 2016
Amiodarone-associated optic neuropathy: a critical review
Rod S Passman1, Charles L Bennett, Joseph M Purpura
1Division of Cardiology, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, IL 60611, USA.
The American Journal of Medicine
|March 6, 2012
Summary
Amiodarone, a common anti-arrhythmic drug, can cause optic neuropathy, leading to vision loss. Early ophthalmologic monitoring is crucial for patients on amiodarone therapy to detect and manage this serious side effect.
Area of Science:
- Ophthalmology
- Pharmacology
- Neurology
Background:
- Amiodarone is a widely used anti-arrhythmic medication.
- Serious toxicities, including optic neuropathy, limit amiodarone's clinical utility.
- Amiodarone-associated optic neuropathy (AAON) is a significant concern for patient safety.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review and analyze existing reports of amiodarone-associated optic neuropathy.
- To understand the presentation, duration, and outcomes of AAON.
- To emphasize the need for ophthalmologic surveillance in patients receiving amiodarone.
Main Methods:
- Systematic review of adverse event reports from the FDA Adverse Event Reporting System.
- Analysis of published case reports and clinical trial adverse event data.
- Compilation and statistical analysis of 296 identified cases of AAON.
Main Results:
- A total of 296 AAON cases were identified.
- The mean duration of amiodarone therapy before vision loss was 9 months.
- Optic disk edema was observed in 85% of cases, with 20% experiencing legal blindness; 58% improved after drug cessation.
Conclusions:
- Amiodarone therapy is associated with a risk of optic neuropathy.
- AAON often presents insidiously, with a significant proportion of patients asymptomatic at diagnosis.
- Regular ophthalmologic examinations are essential for early detection and management of AAON in patients treated with amiodarone.
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