Isotretinoin is an effective and increasingly popular treatment for acne vulgaris. There have been reports of night blindness as a side-effect of treatment although the evidence does not demonstrate a clear causal relationship between isotretinoin therapy and the risk of night blindness. Nevertheless, considering the lack of evidence in this area, it is important to educate patients about this potential consequence, which may become longstanding and even irreversible, and encourage them to promptly report changes in their night vision.
Keywords: acne; isotretinoin; night blindness; night vision; synthetic retinoids.
© 2013 The Australasian College of Dermatologists.