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A class of antibiotics presently used to treat varying bacterial infections may lead to double vision.

The finding was revealed in the September issue of Ophthalmology, the journal of the American Academy of Ophthalmology (Academy).

The researchers led by Frederick W. Fraunfelder, M.D., said that medical practitioners need to observe a high sense of care before recommending fluoroquinolones, a class of antibiotics, for treating bacterial infections and can stop the therapy in case of diplopia occurrence.

From News-Medical.Net:

The researchers, led by Frederick W. Fraunfelder, M.D., found 171 cases between 1986 and 2009 of fluoroquinolone use associated with double vision through a review of reports from the Food and Drug Administration, World Health Organization, and the National Registry of Drug-Induced Ocular Side Effects. The median patient age was 51.6 years, medication doses were within recommended levels, and the interval from starting medication to onset of double vision was 9.6 days on average. Medication was discontinued in 53 patients, and diplopia resolved in all cases.

“Doctors need to be aware of this potential reaction when prescribing these antibiotics and consider stopping therapy if diplopia occurs,” Dr. Fraunfelder said. He also said that special care should be taken with patients who are older than 60, have had renal failure, or are taking steroids, and that thorough ophthalmic and neurological exams should be done to rule out other causes of double vision.

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