Whorl keratopathy is a documented adverse ocular effect of which medication?

Whorl keratopathy is a documented adverse ocular effect of which medication?

• A. PSC cataract formation
• B. Anterior subcapsular lens deposits
• C. NAION
• D. Whorl keratopathy

Answer: (D)

Whorl keratopathy, also known as vortex keratopathy, is a corneal finding where drug deposits create a distinctive whorl-like pattern on the corneal epithelium. It is classically linked to amiodarone, a lipophilic antiarrhythmic, in which the drug accumulates in the cornea and forms these fine, swirling deposits. This change is usually asymptomatic and detected on slit-lamp examination; it may appear after weeks to months of therapy and can persist after the drug is stopped. The other options describe different ocular toxicities not characteristically associated with amiodarone (cataract-related changes or optic neuropathy). Therefore, the documented ocular effect described is whorl keratopathy.

Whorl keratopathy, also known as vortex keratopathy, is a corneal finding where drug deposits create a distinctive whorl-like pattern on the corneal epithelium. It is classically linked to amiodarone, a lipophilic antiarrhythmic, in which the drug accumulates in the cornea and forms these fine, swirling deposits. This change is usually asymptomatic and detected on slit-lamp examination; it may appear after weeks to months of therapy and can persist after the drug is stopped. The other options describe different ocular toxicities not characteristically associated with amiodarone (cataract-related changes or optic neuropathy). Therefore, the documented ocular effect described is whorl keratopathy.