Visual Pathway Degeneration in Chemotherapy-Related Neurotoxicity: A Review and Directions for Future Research.

Chemotherapy-related neurotoxicity (CRNT) is an emerging public health concern. Visual pathway degeneration may be a symptom of CRNT. We surveyed the current literature for evidence of visual pathway degeneration in cancer patients receiving chemotherapy. A systematic review was conducted in PubMed. Six published articles met our inclusion criteria. The studies showed reduced retinal thickness, primarily in the retinal nerve fibre layer, and impaired inner retinal function in patients receiving chemotherapy. In summary, the current literature suggests chemotherapy may induce visual pathway degeneration. Future research may benefit from improving study design, exploring mechanisms of chemotherapy-related visual pathway degeneration, and incorporating these findings into biomarker development.