Which ocular side effect poses the greatest risk to vision when taking Chloroquine?

Which ocular side effect poses the greatest risk to vision when taking Chloroquine?

• A. Bull's eye maculopathy
• B. Whorl keratopathy
• C. Retinopathy
• D. Cataracts

Answer: (A)

Chloroquine and related antimalarials can cause toxicity to the eye, with distinct patterns. Early corneal changes can produce whorl-like keratopathy, which often does not affect vision. The part that poses the greatest risk to vision is retinal toxicity that targets the macula. Bull's-eye maculopathy represents damage to the photoreceptors and retinal pigment epithelium around the fovea, leading to central vision loss and scotomas that can be irreversible if exposure continues. Cataracts are not a typical or primary chloroquine toxicity and don’t reflect the same degree of vision risk. While retinopathy is a broader term for retinal damage, the specific bull's-eye maculopathy is the pattern most associated with serious, lasting vision impairment.

Chloroquine and related antimalarials can cause toxicity to the eye, with distinct patterns. Early corneal changes can produce whorl-like keratopathy, which often does not affect vision. The part that poses the greatest risk to vision is retinal toxicity that targets the macula. Bull's-eye maculopathy represents damage to the photoreceptors and retinal pigment epithelium around the fovea, leading to central vision loss and scotomas that can be irreversible if exposure continues. Cataracts are not a typical or primary chloroquine toxicity and don’t reflect the same degree of vision risk. While retinopathy is a broader term for retinal damage, the specific bull's-eye maculopathy is the pattern most associated with serious, lasting vision impairment.