A rare and often overlooked condition known as RAHDAA is a retinopathy associated with the use of hair dye aromatic amines.
A case that was highlighted in JAMA Ophthalmology details the report of a woman who experienced blurred vision in both eyes a few days following her dyeing her hair with a store bought hair dye. She was ultimately diagnosed with RAHDAA.
Experts believe that para-phenylendediamine, which is an aromatic amine found in hair dyes, disturbs the neurochemical pathway that is responsible for RPE cell survival and self-regulation.
While the woman's visual acuity was eventually restored to 20/20, and the retinal detachments she had incurred were resolved, she sill had subretinal deposits along with neurosensory retina thickening. The woman switched to aromatic amine-free hair dye and no longer had visual disturbances.
