Vision health perspectives on Breaking Bad: Ophthalmic sequelae of methamphetamine use disorder

Ye Huang; Nam V Nguyen; Danny A Mammo; Thomas A Albini; Brent R Hayek; Brent D Timperley; Ronald R Krueger; Steven Yeh

doi:10.3389/ftox.2023.1135792

Vision health perspectives on Breaking Bad: Ophthalmic sequelae of methamphetamine use disorder

Front Toxicol. 2023 Mar 8:5:1135792. doi: 10.3389/ftox.2023.1135792. eCollection 2023.

Authors

Ye Huang¹, Nam V Nguyen¹, Danny A Mammo², Thomas A Albini³, Brent R Hayek⁴, Brent D Timperley¹, Ronald R Krueger¹, Steven Yeh¹

Affiliations

¹ Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, Stanley M. Truhlsen Eye Institute, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE, United States.
² Cleveland Clinic, Cole Eye Institute, Cleveland, OH, United States.
³ Bascom Palmer Eye Institute, Miller School of Medicine, University of Miami, Miami, FL, United States.
⁴ North Georgia Eye Clinic, Gainesville, GA, United States.

Abstract

Methamphetamine use has become a rampant public health issue that not only causes devastating consequences to the user but also poses a burden to surrounding communities. A spectrum of ophthalmic sequelae is associated with methamphetamine use and includes episcleritis, scleritis, corneal ulceration, panophthalmitis, endophthalmitis, retinal vasculitis, and retinopathy. In many instances, prompt recognition of the condition and associated infectious process and early initiation of antimicrobial therapy are crucial steps to preventing vision loss. In this review, we summarize the reported ocular complications that may result from methamphetamine use in addition to several postulated mechanisms regarding the ocular toxicity of methamphetamine. The increasing prevalence of methamphetamine use as a public health threat highlights the need for continued investigation of this ophthalmologic issue.

Keywords: keratitis; methamphetamine; neurotoxicity; ocular injury; retinopathy; vision loss.

Publication types

Review

Grants and funding

This project was supported by the National Eye Institute/National Institutes of Health R01 EY029594 (SY). Funding support was also provided via Stanley M. Truhlsen Family Foundation, Inc.