Effects of Fenretinide (4-HPR) on Dark Adaptation

OBJECTIVES To assess the alterations in dark adaptation induced by low (200 mg/d) doses of fenretinide (4-HPR), to assess whether these effects were cumulative and whether they were reversible, and to attempt to elucidate the mechanism underlying the changes in night vision. DESIGN Case series. SETTING Outpatient eye clinic. PATIENTS Twenty-two women enrolled in a breast cancer chemoprevention trial, and 18 normal control subjects. INTERVENTION Measurements of absolute luminance thresholds during dark adaptation. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES Parameters of an exponential model of the dark-adaptation function before, during, and after administration of fenretinide. RESULTS The most conspicuous effect of fenretinide on dark adaptation was a significant delay in the timing of the rod-cone break (P