Delayed onset chloroquine retinopathy: case report

A patient presented with decreased visual acuity and retinal findings compatible with chloroquine retinopathy 5 years after discontinuing regular usage of chloroquine for rheumatoid arthritis. A review of the literature on chloroquine retinopathy is outlined. In addition, the characteristic findings including fluorescein angiography, retinal physiologic studies, and symptoms are reviewed. Chloroquine retinopathy is dose related and essentially irreversible and often progressive once typical findings are noted. To our knowledge very delayed onset of chloroquine retinopathy is a relatively rare phenomenon but the medical and ophthalmic communities must be alerted to the possibly severe complications of this iatrogenic disease entity.