EFFECT OF METHOTREXATE THERAPY ON VISUAL FUNCTIONS

Aim: To find the effect of Methotrexate therapy on visual functions (visual acuity, contrast sensitivity, color vision, glare sensitivity, visual field) and ocular adnexa Study Design: Descriptive cross-sectional study Place and Duration: College of Ophthalmology and Allied Vision Sciences (COAVS), Mayo Hospital Lahore from September 2016 to November 2016. Material and Methods: A total of 30 patients having psoriasis and rheumatoid arthritis taking methotrexate therapy with different doses and different durations were questioned through a specified performa and then examined for changes in ocular adnexa and visual functions. Results were saved on Excel Sheets and analyzed with SPSS v.25.0. Results: Patients taking methotrexate therapy were found to have affected visual functions with color vision and visual field being more affected as compared to other visual functions. Dosage significantly affects color vision (p=.002) and visual field (p=.001). While in terms of duration, it was analyzed that there is significant relation (p=.006) between duration and the color vision and same was with the visual field (p=.001). Conclusion: Methotrexate therapy has less effect on visual acuity, contrast sensitivity, glare sensitivity and ocular adnexa. However, color vision and visual field were affected due to methotrexate therapy, and neurological visual field defects occur due to long term (1-2 years) therapy.