Canthaxanthin Crystalline Retinopathy

A patient presents with a history of progressive blurry vision in her left eye for two years. She has no significant past medical history except for consuming an over-the-counter oral tanning agent for a period of seven years that was discontinued three years prior to her first visit. Her exam was notable for a visual acuity of 20/20 in the right eye and 20/30 in the left eye. Slit lamp examination shows no anterior segment abnormalities with normal IOP. Posterior segment exam shows scant intraretinal crystals in the right eye and a striking brilliant golden-yellow crystal deposition in a donut-shaped configuration around the center of the macula. SD-OCT shows the deposition of crystals involving all retinal layers. Four years after her first presentation, the patient continued to refrain from using the oral tanning agent and her visual acuity recovers to 20/20 in the left eye. Posterior segment exam along with fundus and SD-OCT imaging shows partial resolution of the crystals more so in the left eye than the right.

Presentation Date: 09/30/2021

Issue Date: 10/08/2021