Side effects of psychotropic drugs on eye

Abstract

Any antipsychotics provoke more or less ocular complications. Some of them are relatively harmless (i.e., dark eyelids, conjunctival and corneal pigmentation, mydriasis, nystagmus, dry eye etc.). These adverse effects are resolved spontaneously after treatment discontinuation, drug switching, or prescribing additional therapy. However, the intake of both typical and atypical neuroleptics, lithium salts, some anticonvulsants (e.g., topiramate) is associated with high risks of vision loss. Moreover, in some patients these medications may result in blindness. The use of psychotropic drugs (e.g., tricyclic antidepressants or serotonin reuptake inhibitors) in patients with higher risk of acute angle closure is of particular concern. The association between phenothiazines and anticonvulsants and retinopathy, chlorpromazine and cataract, anticonvulsants and poor color vision and reduced contrast sensitivity is also important. Psychiatrists and ophthalmologists should consider potential ocular side effects in patients receiving psychotropic drugs. Knowing management algorithm for these conditions is also important. The number of recent publications on this issue is limited. Therefore, articles older than 10 years are sometimes used. Keywords: eye, visual organ, adverse effects, psychotropic drugs, neuroleptics, tricyclic antidepressants, selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors, glaucoma, retinopathy, cataract. For citation: Petukhova A.A., Panov A.A., Malygin Ya.V., Kazanfarova M.A. Side effects of psychotropic drugs on eye. Russian Journal of Clinical Ophthalmology. 2021;21(1):29–33. DOI: 10.32364/2311-7729-2021-21-1-29-33.

Trends and Prevalence of Psychotropic Medication Use in Children and Adolescents in the Period Between 2013 and 2023: A Systematic Review

“…The most commonly reported complications of these physical conditions include paralytic ileus, fecal impaction, bowel obstruction, and intestinal or bowel perforations [ 11 ]. Vision loss, blindness, and other eye-related issues associated with the use of antipsychotics and antidepressants are also considered significant concerns [ 12 , 13 ].…”