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In vivo confocal microstructural analysis of corneal endothelial changes in a patient on long-term chlorpromazine therapy

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Abstract

Background

Deposits in the cornea and lens are a known complication of long-term chlorpromazine therapy.

Method

A 59-year-old woman had previously taken chlorpromazine for 20 years with doses up to 1,200 mg/day, with a mean dose of 400 mg/day. She presented with gradual onset of blurred vision in her left eye. Slit-lamp biomicroscopy revealed multiple fine creamy-white deposits on her corneal endothelium and anterior crystalline lens capsule bilaterally.

Results

In vivo confocal microscopy of the cornea identified irregular hyper-reflective deposits on the posterior surface of the endothelium. The deposits varied from 1 μm to 70 μm in diameter and had well-defined edges. Endothelial morphology was otherwise normal bilaterally.

Conclusions

This is the first report of in vivo confocal imaging of deposits resulting from long-term chlorpromazine use. Microstructural analysis of the corneal endothelium reveals that there were no abnormalities in cellular morphology resulting from these deposits.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Ophthalmology, Faculty of Medical and Health Sciences, University of Auckland, Private Bag 92019, Auckland, New Zealand

    Yun Shan Phua, Dipika V. Patel & Charles N. J. McGhee

Authors
  1. Yun Shan Phua
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  2. Dipika V. Patel
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  3. Charles N. J. McGhee
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Charles N. J. McGhee.

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Phua, Y.S., Patel, D.V. & McGhee, C.N.J. In vivo confocal microstructural analysis of corneal endothelial changes in a patient on long-term chlorpromazine therapy. Graefe's Arch Clin Exp Ophthalmol 243, 721–723 (2005). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00417-004-0982-z

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00417-004-0982-z

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