Comparison of contrast sensitivity in β-thalassemia patients treated by deferoxamine or deferasirox

PURPOSE: To compare contrast sensitivity (CS) in multi-transfused β-thalassemia patients who received deferoxamine with those who received Osveral. METHODS: In this cross sectional study a total of 60 β-thalassemia patients (30 used deferoxamine and 30 used deferasirox) were regarded as case group and 30 age and sex matched healthy subjects were selected as control group. All subjects had a set of examinations including refraction, visual acuity, Biomicroscopy, ophthalmoscopy and CS. Contrast threshold was assessed with the use of Freiberg visual acuity and contrast test under the mesopic light condition for three frequencies; 1, 5, 15 cpd. All data analysis was performed using SPSS, version 17. RESULTS: In visual acuity tests, thalassemic patients did not have any problem. Contrast threshold was higher in thalassemic patients who infuse deferoxamine (1.87 ± 0.63, 1.46 ± 0.81, and 2.96 ± 1.68 in 1, 5, and 15 cpd, respectively) than that of those who intake deferasirox (1.74 ± 0.80 (P = 0.743), 0.99 ± 0.74 (P = 0.047), and 2.42 ± 1.36 (P = 0.321) for 1, 5, and 15 cpd, respectively), and also than healthy patients (1.33 ± 0.58 (P = 0.009), 0.95 ± 0.68 (P = 0.022), and 2.24 ± 1.23 (P = 0.135) for 1, 5, and 15 cpd, respectively). Comparing those who used deferasirox with healthy subjects, contrast threshold was higher in deferasirox group at all special frequencies (P > 0.05). No significant relationship was observed between CS values and duration of transfusion, serum ferritin concentration and dose of chelation therapy (P > 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: CS tests can detect visual disturbance in thalassemic patients before the impairment of visual acuity. It is suggested that CS tests be included in their regular eye examination.