[Risk factors for the occurrence of eye damage following ethambutol treatment].

The present paper deals with two cases of severe irreversible visual disturbances (bilateral opticus atrophy) after combined antituberculous chemotherapy including ethambutol following unilateral nephrectomy because of tuberculosis of the kidneys and with farther complications as damages of the blood vessels and diabetes mellitus. Damages of the kidneys are especially predisposing to side effects by ethambutol and inclusion into an ophthalmological dispensary at short intervals is necessary.