NAION has been reported as a potential ocular complication of which antiarrhythmic medication?

NAION has been reported as a potential ocular complication of which antiarrhythmic medication?

• A. Amiodarone
• B. Digoxin
• C. Warfarin
• D. Clonidine

Answer: (A)

Amiodarone is known to cause various ocular toxicities, including optic neuropathy, which can present as non-arteritic anterior ischemic optic neuropathy (NAION). Although rare, there are case reports linking NAION to amiodarone therapy. The risk appears to be higher with longer duration of use and older age or vascular risk factors. In practice, patients on amiodarone who develop sudden, painless vision loss or changes should have prompt ophthalmologic evaluation, and clinicians may consider adjusting therapy if optic neuropathy is suspected. Other antiarrhythmics listed can cause different eye effects—digoxin may cause color vision changes (xanthopsia), while warfarin and clonidine are not typically associated with NAION—so the best answer is amiodarone.

Amiodarone is known to cause various ocular toxicities, including optic neuropathy, which can present as non-arteritic anterior ischemic optic neuropathy (NAION). Although rare, there are case reports linking NAION to amiodarone therapy. The risk appears to be higher with longer duration of use and older age or vascular risk factors. In practice, patients on amiodarone who develop sudden, painless vision loss or changes should have prompt ophthalmologic evaluation, and clinicians may consider adjusting therapy if optic neuropathy is suspected. Other antiarrhythmics listed can cause different eye effects—digoxin may cause color vision changes (xanthopsia), while warfarin and clonidine are not typically associated with NAION—so the best answer is amiodarone.