Acute, persistent quinine-induced blindness. A case report.

Quinine-induced blindness arising during empirical treatment for malaria in a young man is reported. The condition was noteworthy because it was total and permanent, which is at variance with other published reports. The condition usually disappears within minutes to weeks, but persistent deficits tend to be mild and are rare. Although quinine is an essential anti-malarial agent, physicians should be fully aware of possible side-effects.