Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 10, 2026
08:31
Optimized Griess Reaction for UV-Vis and Naked-eye Determination of Anti-malarial Primaquine
Published on: October 11, 2019
Microperimetric sensitivity in patients on hydroxychloroquine (Plaquenil) therapy
R V Jivrajka1, M A Genead, J J McAnany
1Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, University of Illinois Chicago, Chicago, IL, USA.
Eye (London, England)
|June 15, 2013
Summary
Patients on Plaquenil medication may experience reduced macular sensitivity, even without visible signs of retinopathy. Microperimetry testing revealed lower retinal sensitivity in these patients compared to controls, highlighting its importance in monitoring visual function.
Area of Science:
- Ophthalmology
- Pharmacology
- Visual Neuroscience
Background:
- Hydroxychloroquine (Plaquenil) is widely used for autoimmune conditions.
- Ocular toxicity, particularly retinopathy, is a known risk associated with long-term Plaquenil use.
- Early detection of visual field defects is crucial for preventing irreversible vision loss.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate macular sensitivity using microperimetry in patients on Plaquenil therapy.
- To assess visual function in patients without clinical evidence of Plaquenil retinopathy.
- To determine if subclinical visual field deficits exist in patients on long-term Plaquenil treatment.
Main Methods:
- A cohort of 16 patients on Plaquenil for over 5 years, with normal vision and no retinopathy signs, was studied.
- Ophthalmic examinations included spectral-domain optical coherence tomography (SD-OCT), Humphrey visual field (HVF), fundus autofluorescence (FAF), multifocal electroretinography (mfERG), and microperimetry.
- Ten age-similar, visually normal subjects served as controls for comparison.
Main Results:
- All patients exhibited normal ocular exams and negative results on standard screening tests (HVF, FAF, mfERG, SD-OCT).
- Mean retinal sensitivity measured by microperimetry was significantly lower in Plaquenil patients (14.7±1.9 dB) compared to controls (16.5±2.1 dB) (P<0.001).
- Individual microperimetry results showed reduced sensitivity in the macula of patients on Plaquenil therapy.
Conclusions:
- Patients on Plaquenil therapy can exhibit reduced macular sensitivity even in the absence of clinically detectable retinopathy.
- Microperimetry is a valuable tool for detecting subclinical visual function changes in patients undergoing Plaquenil treatment.
- These findings underscore the importance of advanced functional testing for monitoring Plaquenil users.
