Assessment of the retinal toxicity of hydroxychloroquine

A survey of 347 patients on treatment with hydroxychloroquine showed that a mild pigmentary maculopathy was present in 29 per cent of cases if a cumulative dose of more than 800 g of the drug had been ingested. Most of the affected patients showed no deterioration in visual function. The significance of these findings is discussed with particular regard to the screening of patients on hydroxychloroquine therapy.