Ocular sequelae from the illicit use of class A drugs

Aim: To highlight the changes that may take place in the visual system of the class A drug abuser.

Methods: A literature review was carried out of ocular/visual sequelae of the more common class A drugs. These include stimulants (cocaine and crack cocaine), narcotics (heroin, morphine, methadone) and hallucinogenics (ecstasy, lysergic acid diethylamide, magic mushrooms, mescaline, phencyclidine).

Results: Ocular sequelae affecting visual acuity, the eye and its adnexa, ocular posture and ocular motility can result from recreational use of these drug(s).

Conclusions: Awareness of the consequences of illicit drug use should lead to more pertinent questioning during history-taking.