Irreversible ocular toxicity from single "challenge" dose of deferoxamine

Deferoxamine is a chelating agent used in the treatment of transfusional iron overload and more recently in the diagnosis and treatment of increased aluminum body stores in chronic renal failure patients. High dose chronic and short-term treatment has been associated with ocular toxicity. We present a case of irreversible visual loss that occurred with a single small "challenge" dose of deferoxamine.