Retinal Detachment Risk Linked to Levaquin, Cipro, Other Antibiotics

A popular class of antibiotics, which includes Levaquin and Cipro, could increase the risk of serious eye problems that may lead to vision loss, according to the findings of new research. 

According to a study published this week in The Journal of the American Medical Association, researchers from Canada found that patients who took a class of antibiotics known as fluorquinolones were five times more likely to suffer a retinal detachment, which is a medical emergency that occurs when the retina peels away from its underlying layer of support tissue.

If retinal detachment from Levaquin, Cipro or other antibiotics is not promptly treated, the entire retina may detach and result in blindness or other permanent vision problems. Early symptoms of the condition may include flashes of light, sudden increase in the number of floaters or a feeling of heaviness in the eye.

Doctors have long-suspected that the class of antibiotics, which also include Cravit, Proquin and Zoxan, have a detrimental effect on connective tissues throughout the body.

Side effects of Levaquin and other fluorquinolones have previously been linked to a risk of tendon ruptures, which could be caused by a similar mechanism of action, as the retina uses connective tissues to keep it attached to the gel of the eye ball.

According to the researchers, who looked at data involving nearly 1 million patients and 4,400 people diagnosed with retinal detachment, one in 30 cases of retina detachment involved someone taking Levaquin, Cipro or another fluorquinolone. That compares to only one in 167 people who visited an opthalmologist but did not suffer from retina detachment.

However, the researchers point out that the absolute risk of retinal detachment remains fairly small.

In July 2008, the FDA required that a “black box” warning be added about the tendon rupture risk with Levaquin and other fluoroquinolone antibiotics, which is the strongest warning that can be placed on a prescription medication. However, consumer advocates called for stronger tendon rupture warnings to be added at least two years earlier, with Public Citizen filing a petition with the FDA in 2006, insisting that consumers and the medical community be provided with clearer warnings about the risk of tendon damage.

Levaquin is one of the best selling antibiotics in the United States, generating sales of about $1.5 billion last year. It is now also available as a generic.

Several thousand people throughout the United States who suffered a tendon rupture or other tendon damage after taking the drug are now pursuing a Levaquin lawsuit against the drug maker, alleging that inadequate warnings were provided for consumers and the medical community.