Canthaxanthin retinopathy: long-term observations.

To describe the long-term outcome of canthaxanthin retinopathy. We identified 13 patients with small golden particles near the macular region among a group of 35 patients with known consumption of canthaxanthin somewhen between 1983 and 1988. One long-term follow-up examination was possible in 5 of 13 cases after 16-24 years. The examinations included determination of visual acuity, the Amsler grid, slit lamp examination, perimetry, electro-oculography, electroretinography, optical coherence tomography and fluorescein angiography. Complete disappearance of the golden particles took approximately 20 years. The patients in our study were asymptomatic and no functional defect related to canthaxanthin could be detected. Ingestion of canthaxanthin causes no long-term adverse effects.