Persistent palinopsia following ingestion of lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD)
A. Kawasaki and V. Purvin
Midwest Eye Institute, Methodist Hospital of Indiana, USA.
OBJECTIVE: To identify a distinctive chronic visual complication of
lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD) use. DESIGN: Description of the clinical
findings in three patients with this disorder. SETTING: A
neuro-ophthalmology referral center. RESULTS: All three patients
experienced prolonged afterimages (palinopsia) during LSD intoxication and
have continued to be symptomatic up to 3 years after they ceased to ingest
the drug. Results of neuro-ophthalmologic and neurologic examinations and
neuroimaging and electrophysiologic studies were normal. CONCLUSIONS: We
have described three patients in whom persistent palinopsia developed
following ingestion of LSD. Clinicians should inquire about past LSD use in
all patients who initially have seemingly spontaneous, isolated palinopsia.
Recognition of this distinctive clinical syndrome associated with LSD use
might avoid unnecessary anxiety and excessive diagnostic tests for patients
with this disorder.
