Macular Abnormalities Associated With 5α-Reductase Inhibitor

In a retrospective study conducted from 2016 to 2019, researchers found an association between the use of 5-alpha-reductase inhibitors (5-ARIs), drugs used for treating benign prostate hypertrophy and androgenic alopecia, and macular abnormalities in men. The study included 31 male patients, and found that 71.4% of patients with macular abnormalities of unknown origin had used 5-ARIs. These patients showed foveal cavitation, a type of macular abnormality. The study suggested that the use of 5-ARIs could lead to foveal atrophy or cavitation, and recommended that patients receiving 5-ARI medications should undergo ophthalmic examinations for the development of foveal changes. However, the study was limited by its small sample size and retrospective design.