Visual dysfunction in patients receiving vigabatrin: clinical and electrophysiologic findings.
BACKGROUND
Vigabatrin is an antiepileptic drug that, although relatively well tolerated, is associated with visual field constriction and other visual disturbances of unclear origin.


METHODS
We performed a complete neuroophthalmologic examination and electrophysiologic studies on 39 patients receiving vigabatrin and on 11 control patients.


RESULTS
Nearly 50% of patients receiving vigabatrin had constricted visual fields compared with control patients. Some of the vigabatrin patients also had reduced visual acuity and abnormal color vision. In addition, most vigabatrin patients had abnormal electroretinographic results, the severity of which correlated strongly with the degree of visual field constriction.


CONCLUSIONS
Vigabatrin can cause electrophysiologic evidence of retinal dysfunction and clinically detectable disturbances of visual sensory function.
Miller
N R
NR
Department of Neurology, the Johns Hopkins Medical Institutions, Baltimore, USA.
Johnson
M A
MA
Paul
S R
SR
Girkin
C A
CA
Perry
J D
JD
Endres
M
M
Krauss
G L
GL
D000328:Adult; D016907:Adverse Drug Reaction Reporting Systems; D000368:Aged; D000927:Anticonvulsants / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D003118:Color Perception / Q000187:drug effects; D004569:Electroencephalography / Q000187:drug effects*; D004596:Electroretinography / Q000187:drug effects; D017029:Epilepsy, Complex Partial / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D020888:Vigabatrin / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D014786:Vision Disorders / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000175:diagnosis; D014792:Visual Acuity / Q000187:drug effects
D000927:Anticonvulsants; D020888:Vigabatrin