Acute retinal pigment epithelial detachment secondary to pamidronate administration

Abstract

Bisphosphonates are associated with an important number of inflammatory ocular side-effects including but not limited to conjunctivitis, episcleritis, scleritis, uveitis, and optic neuritis. The intravenous bisphosphonates appear to be linked with more severe ocular inflammation than the orally administered ones. These eye complications tend to resolve with the bisphosphonate discontinuation and can re-occur with its re-challenge. We present here the first case of an acute retinal pigment epithelial detachment associated with pamidronate infusion in a 59-year-old patient with metastatic prostate cancer.