Bilateral diffuse iris atrophy after the use of oral clarithromycin

Abstract

PURPOSE: To report a newly recognised advert event of clarithromycin. METHODS: Retrospective, case report. RESULTS: A 30-year old female referred to our centre with bilateral diffuse iris atrophy after the use of oral clarithromycin for a pulmonary infection. CONCLUSIONS: Bilateral acute depigmentation of the iris is a new clinical entity. Iris transillumination and sphincter paralysis are recognised adverse effects of oral antibiotic therapy, but to our knowledge no other publication has referred to uveitis-like syndrome due to oral administration of clarithromycin.