Thirty patients on long-term benzodiazepine medication were subjected to full ophthalmoscopic examination. Of these 19 (63.3%) complained of symptoms of irritation, blurred vision or difficulty in reading. None, however, had reduced visual acuities apart from two where the cause was long-standing amblyopia. Thirteen patients had some form of retinal finding, nine macular and four non-macular. Of the 14 who presented for flash and pattern electroret-inography (ERC), none showed any abnormality which could be ascribed to the medication, its total dose, or duration. We conclude, on the basis of the evidence from this small cohort, that long-term benzodiazopine medication has little effect upon retinal function as signalled by the ERG.
Stafanous SN, Clarke MP, Ashton H, Mitchell KW. The effect of long-term use of benzodiazepines on the eye and retina. Documenta Ophthalmoligica 1999; 99: 55-68.
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