Retinal Pigment Epithelium Screening of Patients Treated with Anti- Epileptic Medications using Electrooculography

Author(s): Sanaz Abdolalizadeh, Somayeh Karami, Nafiseh Tavakoolpoor Saleh, Seyed Mohammad Masoud Shushtarian, Reza Pour Mazar, Ahmad Shojaei

Aim: This study uses electrooculography (EOG) to identify the probable side effects of anti-epileptic medications on the retina. A seizure is a severe involuntary shrinkage state of the skeletal muscle and occurs spasmodically. There are certain anti-epileptic medications such as carbamazepine and valproic acid, which may affect retinal layers, mainly retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) of the visual system.

Methods: Twenty patients (10 males and 10 females) in the age range of 15-30 years old participated in this study (case group) and were treated with anti-epileptic medications. EOG was recorded in the population and the Arden Index (AI) of EOG in the patient group was compared to that of the control group with healthy retinas.

Results: We observed no statistical difference in the sex and age factors, while the variation for the best corrected visual acuity was significant. There was also a significant difference in the AI between the case and control groups (p < 0.001).

Conclusion: Anti-epileptic drugs may affect a certain retinal layer; RPE, which can be diagnosed by the AI in the EOG test.

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