Retinal dysfunction in patients treated with vigabatrin

Purpose
To present the current knowledge of vigabatrin influence on the retinal function and to introduce a case report of toxic retinopathy diagnosed in our laboratory, in patient treated with vigabatrin.

Material and methods
A review study based on other authors’, concerning the role of diagnostic tests like: perimetry, flash electroretinography (ERG), multifocal electroretinography (mfERG), electrooculography (EOG) in patients treated with vigabatrin and presentation of toxic retinopathy in drug-resistant epileptic patient treated with vigabatrin.

Results
In vigabatrin treated patients a functional or structural retinal changes may occur, what can be measured by electrophysiological and visual field testing. Irreversible abnormalities of visual field and ERG tests results prove the toxic character of retinopathy in presented vigabatrin treated patient.

Conclusions
ERG tests and visual field assessment should be performed in patients treated with vigabatrin. Initial abnormalities occurrence should be a signal for considering the change of therapy.