Toxic retinopathy — DVA SoP factors

Reasonable Hypothesis (RH) — Statement of Principles No. 19 of 2018

At least one of the following factors must as a minimum exist before it can be said that a reasonable hypothesis has been raised connecting toxic retinopathy or death from toxic retinopathy with the circumstances of a person's relevant service:

1. (1)
   being treated with a quinoline-based drug as specified, before the clinical onset of toxic retinopathy;

   Note: being treated with a quinoline-based drug as specified is defined in the Schedule 1 - Dictionary.

2. (2)
   being treated with tamoxifen as specified within the one year before the clinical onset of toxic retinopathy;

   Note: being treated with tamoxifen as specified is defined in the Schedule 1 - Dictionary.

3. (3)
   being treated with an intravitreal or subconjunctival aminoglycoside from the specified list of aminoglycosides, within the seven days before the clinical onset of toxic retinopathy;

   Note: specified list of aminoglycosides is defined in the Schedule 1 - Dictionary.

4. (4)
   being treated with intravitreal fomivirsen or ganciclovir within the 30 days before the clinical onset of toxic retinopathy;
5. (5)
   being treated with intravenous deferoxamine within the seven days before the clinical onset of toxic retinopathy;
6. (6)
   being treated with a phenothiazine from the specified list of phenothiazines for a continuous period of at least the two weeks before the clinical onset of toxic retinopathy;

   Note: specified list of phenothiazines is defined in the Schedule 1 - Dictionary.

7. (7)
   being treated with daily clofazimine, at an average dose of at least 100 milligrams per day, for a continuous period of at least the three months before the clinical onset of toxic retinopathy;
8. (8)
   being treated with ritonavir for a continuous period of at least the three months before the clinical onset of toxic retinopathy;
9. (9)
   being treated with interferon for a continuous period of at least four weeks, within the three months before the clinical onset of toxic retinopathy;
10. (10)
    being treated with daily topiramate for a continuous period of at least seven days within the 30 days before the clinical onset of toxic retinopathy;
11. (11)
    having iron chelating therapy as specified for a continuous period of at least the four weeks before the clinical onset of toxic retinopathy;

    Note: iron chelating therapy as specified is defined in the Schedule 1 - Dictionary.

12. (12)
    having haematological or biochemical evidence of poisoning with cobalt at the time of the clinical onset of toxic retinopathy;
13. (13)
    taking oral canthaxanthin supplements or tablets as specified within the five years before the clinical onset of toxic retinopathy;

    Note: taking oral canthaxanthin supplements or tablets as specified is defined in the Schedule 1 - Dictionary.

14. (14)
    inhaling isopropyl nitrite within the two weeks before the clinical onset of toxic retinopathy;
15. (15)
    using an intravenous drug containing talc within the five years before the clinical onset of toxic retinopathy;
16. (16)
    for cystoid macular oedema only: (a) being treated with daily niacin for a continuous period of at least two weeks, at an average dose of at least 1.5 grams per day, within the three months before the clinical onset of toxic retinopathy; (b) being treated with intravenous paclitaxel or docetaxel within the three months before the clinical onset of toxic retinopathy; or (c) being treated with the thiazolidinedione drugs rosiglitazone or pioglitazone for a continuous period of at least the four weeks before the clinical onset of toxic retinopathy;

    Note: cystoid macular oedema is defined in the Schedule 1 - Dictionary.

17. (17)
    for cystoid macular oedema only, in an aphakic or pseudophakic eye only: (a) being treated with topical adrenaline eye drops, within the three months before the clinical onset of toxic retinopathy; or (b) being treated with latanoprost within the three months before the clinical onset of toxic retinopathy;

    Note: cystoid macular oedema and aphakic or pseudophakic eye are defined in the Schedule 1 - Dictionary.

18. (18)
    inability to obtain appropriate clinical management for toxic retinopathy;

Aggravation-only factors: the factors in subsection 9(18) apply only to material contribution to, or aggravation of, the condition where it was suffered or contracted before or during (but did not arise out of) the person’s relevant service.