New Study Links Fluoroquinolones to Retinal Detachment

New York, NY: A new Canadian study has found a link between people taking fluoroquinolone antibiotics and retinal detachment. In fact, the paper, published in the Journal of the American Medical Association, online April 3, 2012, found that people treated in emergency by ophthalmologists for retinal detachment were five times more likely to be taking fluoroquinolones.

Retinal detachment refers to the separation of light-sensitive eye tissue from gel that fills the eyeball. It starts as the appearance of lines, dots or "floaters" across the eye, and can cause permanent blindness in some cases if not treated surgically within a few days.

According to the study, fluoroquinolones, which include ciprofloxacin (marketed under names including Zoxan, Proquin and Cipro) and levofloxacin (Levaquin, Cravit), increase the risk for retinal detachment because they are toxic to connective tissue and cartilage. Mahyar Etminan, the study's lead author, noted past studies which show associations between fluoroquinolones and damage to Achilles and shoulder tendons.

Etminan and his colleagues, from the Child and Family Research Institute of British Columbia in Vancouver, used data from roughly one million patients treated by ophthalmologists in British Columbia between 2000 and 2007.

Data from the prescription records show that one of every 30 patients with retinal detachment was taking a fluoroquinolone at the time of diagnosis. The most commonly used antibiotic was ciprofloxacin and the most common reasons for taking the drugs were for urinary tract or respiratory infections.

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Published on Apr-4-12