Epinephrine maculopathy

Abstract

Epinephrine maculopathy is a reversible macular change that occurs in aphakic eyes being treated with topical epinephrine compounds. The first symptom is transient blurred vision, which can be followed by decreased visual acuity, flame-shaped hemorrhages, and cystoid macular edema. Onset of symptoms can range from a few days after the commencement of epinephrine therapy to several months thereafter. Epinephrine maculopathy should be differentiated from Irvine-Gass syndrome. Treatment consists of changing the patient's therapeutic regimen for glaucoma to other pharmaceutical agents. When this is done recovery of pre-maculopathy visual acuity and reversal of cystic macular changes usually occur.