Ocular toxicity of daily anti-tubercular treatment regimen: A prospective observational study

Abstract

Context: India carries a significant burden of TB which is the commonest cause of infectious disease-related mortality. Anti-tubercular drugs can cause serious ocular toxic effects. Optical coherence tomography (OCT) can be used as a valuable tool in the quantitative analysis of anti-tubercular treatment (ATT)-induced toxic optic neuropathy. Aims: To study the changes in visual parameters in patients on ATT and to analyze the OCT changes in patients by taking measurements once before initiation of treatment and once during ongoing treatment (between three and six months). Settings and Design: Tertiary care center, Prospective observational study. Methods and Material: A prospective observational study was conducted in 140 eyes of 70 subjects undergoing ATT as per the latest RNTCP guidelines where the following determinants were examined, and the corresponding values were taken once before initiation of treatment and once during ongoing treatment (between three and six months) and results were analyzed. Around 90% of the subjects were examined at the end fourth month. Visual acuity was taken using the Log Mar chart, color vision using Ishihara’s chart, and slit lamp examination and fundus evaluation using a 90 D lens. OCT was done and average nasal, temporal, superior, and inferior quadrant retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL) measurements were taken. Perimetry was also done; however, findings were not included in this study. Statistical Analysis Used: Frequency and percentage were applied to study the changes in visual parameters in patients on ATT. A paired t-test was applied for numerical variables to analyze the OCT changes in patients undergoing ATT. A P value < 0.05 was considered statistically significant. Results: Despite a near-normal appearance of the fundus on ophthalmoscopy, OCT clearly demonstrated and quantified the loss of retinal nerve fibers. Statistically significant RNFL thinning (P value < 0.001) was noted in the superior, temporal, and inferior quadrants and least in the nasal quadrant (P = 0.005). Significant deterioration in visual acuity was observed following three months of ATT (P = 0.001). Red-green color vision abnormalities were detected in 14 out of 140 eyes (10%). Conclusions: RNFL thickness was reduced on OCT. RNFL thickness quantification and assessment of other visual parameters especially color vision help in the early diagnosis of ocular toxic effects of ATT. Hence, awareness and active screening are imperative in preventing visual impairment and blindness.