Association Between Oral Fluoroquinolone Use and Retinal Detachment

Area of Science:

• Ophthalmology
• Pharmacology
• Epidemiology

Background:

• The association between oral fluoroquinolone use and retinal detachment (RD) risk remains debated.
• Investigating this link is crucial due to the widespread prescription of fluoroquinolones.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the association between oral fluoroquinolone consumption and the risk of developing retinal detachment (RD).
• To examine this association for both rhegmatogenous and exudative types of RD.

Main Methods:

• A case-crossover study utilized French healthcare databases from July 2010 to December 2013.
• Included 27,540 adult patients diagnosed with RD, excluding those with prior RD, specific ocular conditions, or recent hospitalizations.
• Assessed fluoroquinolone exposure within 10 days prior to RD surgery (risk period) versus 61-180 days prior (control period).

Main Results:

• A significant increase in RD risk was observed within 10 days of oral fluoroquinolone dispensing (adjusted odds ratio [aOR], 1.46; 95% CI, 1.15-1.87).
• The risk was elevated for both rhegmatogenous RD (aOR, 1.41; 95% CI, 1.04-1.92) and exudative RD (aOR, 2.57; 95% CI, 1.46-4.53).
• No significant association was found for recent (11-30 days) or past (31-60 days) fluoroquinolone use.

Conclusions:

• Current use of oral fluoroquinolones is associated with an increased risk of retinal detachment (RD), encompassing rhegmatogenous and exudative forms.
• Findings suggest a potential link between fluoroquinolone use and RD, warranting further investigation.
• The precise nature of this association requires additional research.