[Canthaxanthin retinopathy].

The authors examined 32 patients with light-dermatosis or vitiligo who were being treated with orally administered Canthaxanthin and betacarotene. Eight had crystalline retinopathy with typical "gold dust" particles in the inner retinal layers, forming a band-shaped zone around the macula and, in more severe cases, also around the optic disk. No deterioration of visual function was found in any of these patients. Crystal deposition was correlated significantly to the total Canthaxanthin dosage but not to the duration of treatment.