An Updated Review on the Most Common Agents Causing Toxic Optic Neuropathies.
BACKGROUND
Toxic optic neuropathies (TONs) often present with a gradual and bilateral decrease in visual acuity, scotomas and optic disc pallor. Obtaining an accurate history is the critical first step in determining the etiology of TONs.


METHODS
This updated review contains a thorough analysis of the current PubMed-indexed literature on the most common agents responsible for TONs, including methanol, ethambutol, amiodarone, linezolid, tumor necrosis factor alpha inhibitors and phosphodiesterase 5 inhibitors.


RESULTS
The reviewed articles are mainly case reports presenting new and controversial aspects of the above agents. New treatment strategies, such as erythropoietin for methanol optic neuropathy, are being proposed for TONs, a condition that was previously regarded as untreatable.


CONCLUSION
TONs could cause significant disability due to visual impairment. In case of early diagnosis and drug withdrawal, most TONs are treatable. Patients need to be appropriately counseled, and prescribing physicians should be especially made aware of TON-inducing medications.
['Wasinska-Borowiec|Weronika|W|', 'Aghdam|Kaveh Abri|KA|', 'Saari|Jukka Matias|JM|', 'Grzybowski|Andrzej|A|']
D000638:Amiodarone D004921:Erythropoietin D004977:Ethambutol D006801:Humans D000069349:Linezolid D000432:Methanol D009901:Optic Nerve Diseases D058986:Phosphodiesterase 5 Inhibitors
toxic optic neuropathy methanol ethambutol Amiodarone linezolid phosphodiesterase 5 inhibitors tumor necrosis factor alpha
inhibitors