Lorlatinib Induced Blindness: A Rare Entity

Pract Radiat Oncol. 2025 Jan 22:S1879-8500(25)00006-2. doi: 10.1016/j.prro.2025.01.004. Online ahead of print.

Abstract

Lorlatinib is a central nervous system (CNS) penetrant third generation tyrosine kinase inhibitor (TKI) approved for the first line management of metastatic non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) with anaplastic lymphoma kinase (ALK) rearrangement [1] which accounts for 3-5% of NSCLC cases [2]. The most commonly reported side effects include hyperlipidemia, edema, peripheral neuropathy and CNS effects [2]. While ocular side effects such as photopsia, blurred vision, vitreous floaters and diplopia have been documented with another ALK TKI, crizotinib, there are few reports of such effects with lorlatinib [3]. Herein we present a case of bilateral optic neuropathy, initially misdiagnosed as optic nerve metastases and treated with palliative radiotherapy.