5 Key Takeaways

• 1

  Hydroxychloroquine retinopathy risk is low with recommended dosing and appropriate screening, per the American Academy of Ophthalmology.

• 2

  Updated guidelines emphasize early detection and risk factors for HCQ retinopathy, particularly in long-term female users.

• 3

  Recommended screening modalities include optical coherence tomography and fundus autofluorescence, with additional confirmatory tests.

• 4

  The risk of HCQ toxicity is under 1% at doses ≤5 mg/kg/day within 5 years, increasing with higher doses and longer use.

• 5

  Annual screening is advised during therapy, but can be deferred for up to 5 years in patients without major risk factors.