Retinal toxicity from hydroxychloroquine underestimated, say researchers
Thousands of Australians with inflammatory or dermatological diseases should be screened, researchers say
The prevalence of retinopathy among long-term users of hydroxychloroquine may be up to 15 times greater than many think, Australian clinicians say.
This significant underestimation of the permanent loss of vision associated with the anti-inflammatory drug has led to calls for the development of Australian-specific screening guidelines.
Once thought to be rare and affecting between 0.5-2% of long-term users of hydroxychloroquine, a more recent study found an overall retinopathy prevalence of 7.5% among patients taking it for at