A Case of Cataract after Long-Term Use of Clonazepam in a Young Patient.
10.3341/jkos.2011.52.12.1541
- Author:
Byung Ju CHOO
1
;
Young Suk KANG
;
Tai Jin KIM
;
Jung Hyun PARK
Author Information
1. Department of Ophthalmology, Seoul Paik Hospital, Inje University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea. hyuny@medimail.co.kr
- Publication Type:Case Report
- Keywords:
Benzodiazepine;
Cataract;
Clonazepam
- MeSH:
Adult;
Benzodiazepines;
Cataract;
Clonazepam;
Eye;
Female;
Humans;
Risk Factors;
Visual Acuity
- From:Journal of the Korean Ophthalmological Society
2011;52(12):1541-1544
- CountryRepublic of Korea
- Language:Korean
-
Abstract:
PURPOSE: To report a case of cataract after long-term use of clonazepam in a young patient, with a similar appearance to cataract induced by other psychotropic agents. CASE SUMMARY: A 37-year-old woman complained of a visual disturbance in both eyes. The best-corrected visual acuity was 0.8 in the right eye and 0.6 in the left eye. Bilateral cortical cataract was observed on slit-lamp examination, and no other ophthalmic abnormalities were found. Potential risk factors for cataract were investigated, including past medical and family history, revealing a 20-year history of oral clonazepam (0.5-1 mg/day), for the neurological diagnosis of "chorea of unknown etiology". Detailed medication history did not reveal long-term use of any other drugs which could have induced the cataract. CONCLUSIONS: Because clonazepam use may induce cortical cataract, regular ophthalmologic examinations are necessary during long-term oral psychotropic therapy.
