Non-prescription cold and flu medication-induced transient myopia with uveal effusion: case report

BACKGROUND: To report a case of non-prescription cold and flu medication-induced transient myopia with uveal effusion. CASE PRESENTATION: Bilateral high intraocular pressure, shallow anterior chambers, uveal effusion, and a myopic shift were encountered in a 39-year-old Chinese male 1 night after taking a non-prescription flu medicine three times than the recommended dose. Ultrasound biomicroscopy (UBM) showed bilateral ciliochoroidal effusions, disappearance of the ciliary sulcus, closure of the angle of the anterior chamber, and anterior displacement of the lens-iris diaphragm. Treatment with aqueous suppressants was given. Within a week, the uncorrected vision restored, and the myopia had disappeared. UBM revealed major resolution of the ciliochoroidal effusions in both eyes, deepening of the anterior chamber, return of the lens-iris diaphragm to a more posterior position. CONCLUSIONS: Overdose of non-prescription cold and flu medication may cause bilateral uveal effusions inducing acute angle-closure glaucoma and acute myopia.