Tamoxifen

  • Medication used to treat some forms of breast cancer
  • Most common ophthalmic side effect: accumulation of white crystalline deposits around fovea
  • Less common ophthalmic side effect: blurred vision from cystoid macular edema mostly in patients treated with 120mg twice daily and after cumulative dose of 100gm
  • Macular hard exudates in diabetes mellitus
  • Hereditary maculopathy
  • Cystoid macular edema of other causes
  • Perform baseline ophthalmic examination if treatment with high doses is anticipated
  • Refer patient with visual symptoms
  • Discontinue medication if tamoxifen retinopathy confirmed
  • Visual loss usually reversible
  • Crystalline deposits sometimes reversible