An ingredient in the hair dye used by a French woman led to a temporary vision-robbing condition known as retinopathy, researchers have reported.
The woman’s vision issues resolved after she switched to a dye free of aromatic amines, the problematic ingredients identified in the case. Dr. Nicolas Chirpaz, an ophthalmologist at Edouard Herriot Hospital in Lyon, led the study. The researchers highlighted that while such cases are rare, raising awareness about the risks associated with certain hair dye ingredients could help prevent permanent eye damage.
The findings were published in the journal JAMA Ophthalmology. The French team pointed out that this isn’t the first instance of hair dye being linked to retinopathy; three similar cases were reported in 2022 involving middle-aged women who used dyes containing aromatic amines.
In this case, a 61-year-old woman with no previous vision problems experienced progressively blurry vision in both eyes a few days after using a hair dye containing aromatic amines, specifically para-phenylenediamine.
Examination revealed multiple retinal detachments similar to those seen in retinopathies associated with certain enzymes in the eye, namely MEK1 or MEK2. Additionally, the woman’s eyes showed abnormal thickening of the neurosensory retina.
Extensive tests ruled out other potential causes such as infections or cancer. Ultimately, the retinal damage was attributed to the hair dye ingredient, based on the timing of the symptoms and the exposure to the dye.
After switching to a hair dye without aromatic amines, the woman’s vision improved to 20/20 within a month. Four years later, she reported no recurrence of vision problems while using amine-free hair dye.
Dr. Chirpaz’s team believes that aromatic amines like para-phenylenediamine may disrupt neurochemical pathways crucial for the health of retinal pigment epithelial cells. Although cases of retinopathy related to hair dye aromatic amines (RAHDAA) are rare, doctors should be vigilant for such conditions in patients presenting with unexplained retinopathy.