A September 2009 issue of Ophthalmology magazine reports that taking fluoroquinolones in certain patients can cause the development of diplopia.

The aim of the study conducted in the United States was to establish a possible link between the intake of fluoroquinolones and the development of diplopia.

Information on cases of diplopia induced by fluoroquinolones was obtained from the database of the National Register of Drug-Induced Adverse Reactions of WHO and the FDA (National Register of Ocular Drug-induced Side Effects , World Health Organization, Food and Drug Administration.).

The data analyzed included the name of a specific drug from the fluoroquinolone group, the dose of the drug, the duration of treatment until the onset of HLR, the type of adverse drug reaction, age, gender, concomitant drug therapy, other systemic diseases, data on withdrawal of the drug and information on resumption of the drug.

A total of 171 cases of diplopia induced by fluoroquinolones were recorded in 76 men, 91 women and 4 cases in which the patient's sex was not indicated. The average age of the patients was 51.6 years. Generally, the dose of fluoroquinolone varied within the recommended limits for each specific drug in the fluoroquinolone group.

The time from the start of treatment to the start of NLR was on average 9.6 days (1 day to 5 months). Concomitant tendinitis was diagnosed in 17 patients, renal cysts in 1 patient. 49 patients were 60 years of age or older, 4 patients received systemic anti-inflammatory therapy with glucocorticoids. 53 patients showed a positive response (stopping diplopia) to stop the drug (positive trigger), and 5 patients showed a re-development of an adverse event after resumption of the drug, previously canceled due to diplopia ( positive rechallenge).

Thus, in accordance with WHO criteria, a causal relationship between the intake of fluoroquinolone and the occurrence of diplopia is considered possible. This conclusion was made based on the presence of a temporary relationship between drug administration and the development of NLR, multiple positive responses to drug withdrawal, and several reports of re-development of the event. undesirable after resumption of the drug and the presence of a convincing mechanism for the development of diplopia when taking fluoroquinolones, namely, possible extraocular tendonitis the muscles.