The use of Amsler grids in early chloroquine retinopathy

A survey of Canadian ophthalmologists and rheumatologists suggests that there is a significant incidence of definite chloroquine retinopathy in their patients. As hydroxychloroquine and chloroquine appear to be better tolerated and less toxic than some other drugs used in the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis and systemic lupus erythematosus, there is a need for a simple, patient-administered test for early diagnosis of chloroquine retinopathy. The Amsler grid and smaller Yannuzzi modified Amsler grid are simple, inexpensive, and correlate well with scotomas found with static and kinetic perimetry.