Quinine Amblyopia: Is Current Management Appropriate?

Abstract

Thirty-one patients blind from overdoses of quinine are reported. One died from cardiotoxicity. Of the survivors, thirteen received bilateral stellate ganglion block, seven unilateral block, five a variety of other treatments aimed at increasing retinal blood flow, and five no specific treatment. Nine patients recovered vision completely but twenty were left with varying degrees of visual field constriction and one was blind at last follow-up.

No treatment for oculotoxicty was of benefit. Since experimental and clinical observations show that the primary toxic effect of quinine is on photoreceptor cells, stellate ganglion block and other vasodilator treatments have no rational basis and should no longer be recommended.