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Ocular argyrosis secondary to long-term ingestion of silver nitrate salts

Authors Stafeeva, Erlanger M, Velez-Montoya R , Olson JL

Received 8 September 2012

Accepted for publication 18 October 2012

Published 5 December 2012 Volume 2012:6 Pages 2033—2036

DOI https://doi.org/10.2147/OPTH.S37898

Checked for plagiarism Yes

Review by Single anonymous peer review

Peer reviewer comments 2



Kesenia Stafeeva, Michael Erlanger, Raul Velez-Montoya, Jeffrey L Olson

Department of Ophthalmology, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Rocky Mountain Lions Eye Institute, Colorado, CO, USA

Abstract: This case report describes the clinical, autofluorescence, and optical coherent tomography findings in a patient with panocular argyrosis secondary to chronic intake of diluted silver nitrate salts in his water supply. An 86-year-old Caucasian male with a distinctive gray-bluish hue of the skin presented to our clinic, having developed a slow decrease in visual acuity in both eyes and nyctalopia for the past 2 years. Based on the patient's history of chronic intake of silver nitrate salts and a positive skin biopsy (performed by the dermatology department, data not shown), a diagnosis of panocular argyrosis was made. Fluorescein angiography showed choroidal blockage with a completely dark choroid. Fundus autofluorescence was within normal limits. Optical coherent tomography showed multiple excrescences of retinal pigment epithelium in both eyes. Although the drusen-like changes on fundus examination and retinal pigment epithelium changes may account for the diminished vision, the presence of concomitant nyctalopia suggests underlying damage of the photoreceptors.

Keywords: silver nitrate, argyria, ocular argyrosis, fundus autofluorescence, optical coherent tomography

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