title: Canthaxanthin retinopathy: long-term observations.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To describe the long-term outcome of canthaxanthin retinopathy.
  
  
  METHODS
  We identified 13 patients with small golden particles near the macular region among a group of 35 patients with known consumption of canthaxanthin somewhen between 1983 and 1988. One long-term follow-up examination was possible in 5 of 13 cases after 16-24 years. The examinations included determination of visual acuity, the Amsler grid, slit lamp examination, perimetry, electro-oculography, electroretinography, optical coherence tomography and fluorescein angiography.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Complete disappearance of the golden particles took approximately 20 years. The patients in our study were asymptomatic and no functional defect related to canthaxanthin could be detected.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Ingestion of canthaxanthin causes no long-term adverse effects.
authors.affiliation: Centre of Ophthalmology, University Hospital of Cologne, Cologne, Germany. arno.hueber@uni-koeln.de
authors.forename: Arno
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Hueber
authors.forename: André
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Rosentreter
authors.forename: Maria
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Severin
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D016644:Canthaxanthin / Q000009:adverse effects*; D004596:Electroretinography / Q000187:drug effects; D005451:Fluorescein Angiography; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D002479:Inclusion Bodies / Q000473:pathology; D008875:Middle Aged; D012160:Retina / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000473:pathology; D012164:Retinal Diseases / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000175:diagnosis; D041623:Tomography, Optical Coherence; D014792:Visual Acuity; D058609:Visual Field Tests; D014794:Visual Fields / Q000187:drug effects
chemical_list: D016644:Canthaxanthin