Ocular Inflammation Associated with Bisphosphonate Therapy

 

Ocular inflammation has occurred with:

(1) alendronate sodium (Fosamax)

(2) etidronate disodium

(3) ibandronate (Boniva)

(4) pamidronate disodium

(5) risedronate (Actonel)

(6) sodium clodronate

 

Clinical signs and symptoms:

(1) abnormal or blurred vision

(2) vision loss

(3) ocular pain

(4) photophobia

 

Possible sites of inflammation - may be isolated or mixed:

(1) conjunctivitis

(2) scleritis

(3) episcleritis (inflammation of tissues overlying the sclera)

(4) uveitis

Finding	Recommendation of Fraunfelder and Fraunfelder
vision loss	refer to ophthalmologist
ocular pain	refer to ophthalmologist
isolated conjunctivitis	may decrease with continued therapy
scleritis or mixed inflammation	discontinue bisphosphonate until inflammation resolves