POTASSIUM IODATE RETINOTOXICITY AFTER AN OVERDOSE OF ANTIRADIATION PILLS: A CASE OF APOCALYPTIC RETINOPATHY.

PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to report a case of severe retinal toxicity after an attempted suicidal overdose of antiradiation pills containing a well-known retinal pigment epithelial toxin, potassium iodate.

METHODS

Clinical examination and multimodal imaging are provided from a clinic visit 11 years after the suicide attempt.

RESULTS

A 42-year-old patient had widespread retinal atrophy in both eyes with near-complete absence of the retinal pigment epithelium and severe retinal thinning. A few remaining areas of preserved photoreceptors provided her with 20/60 and 20/200 vision in her right and left eyes, respectively, with very constricted visual fields.

CONCLUSION

Despite being first described over 100 years ago, few cases of iodate retinotoxicity have been reported in the published literature, and most are related to accidental or intentional ingestion of iodate salts used to iodize table salt. This unique case of iodate retinotoxicity secondary to antiradiation tablets highlights the risks of unregulated sale of these agents marketed in the United States as essential components of nuclear apocalypse "go bags" because they have a poor margin of safety and no specific warnings of the risk of permanent blindness with overdosage.