J Korean Ophthalmol Soc.  2012 Jun;53(6):895-900.

Two Cases of Ocular Complications Caused by Phendimetrazine

• Huh HD
• Kim JK
• Han YS
• Park JM

Abstract

PURPOSE
The authors of the present study report treatment experience of acute myopia and branch retinal vein occlusion associated with phendimetrazine, a drug used for weight reduction.
CASE SUMMARY
Case 1: A 32-year-old woman, previously devoid of ocular problems, visited our hospital with bilateral visual disturbance after taking phendimetrazine for weight reduction. Ciliochoroidal effusion and anterior shifting of the lens-iris diaphragm were observed, which resulted in a shallow anterior chamber, myopic shifting and an increase in intraocular pressure due to angle closure. The symptoms were relieved by discontinuing the use of phendimetrazine and administration of intraocular pressure-lowering agents. Case 2: A 26-year-old woman, previously devoid of ocular problems, visited our hospital with left superior visual field disturbance after taking phendimetrazine for weight reduction. The examinations revealed papilledema, disc hemorrhage and tortuous vascular changes in her left eye. Fluorescein angiography was performed, and retinal vein occlusion was diagnosed. The patient discontinued weight reduction agents and recovered while under observation.
CONCLUSIONS
Phendimetrazine, used for weight reduction, can cause acute myopia via prostaglandin synthesis and retinal venous occlusion due to vascular constriction.

Keyword

Glaucoma; Myopia; Phendimetrazine; Vascular occlusion

MeSH Terms

Adult
Anterior Chamber
Constriction
Diaphragm
Eye
Female
Fluorescein Angiography
Glaucoma
Hemorrhage
Humans
Intraocular Pressure
Morpholines
Myopia
Papilledema
Retinal Vein Occlusion
Retinaldehyde
Visual Fields
Weight Loss
Morpholines
Retinaldehyde

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