My name is Robert, I'm 23 and I had been using melanotan II for over 1 year with great results. However, recently I got vision problems (with gradual onset) and thus went to see an ophthalmologist. I was diagnostized with a severe form of central serous retinopathy (CSR). Although CSR rarely leads to blindness, usually some vision impairment remains. There is no effective treatment for this condition.
She also found a rather big nevus (mole) on the choroid in my left eye which hasn't been there before (have had an eye exam in the past). This cannot be removed and have to be monitored for the rest of my life because it may lead to cancer at some point. She had no idea regarding the cause. Apart from being a bit myopic, my eyes were perfectly healthy before. I didn't tell her about Melanotan by the way.
 
Afterwards I did some research and found out that Central serous retinopathy is linked to therapeutic use of adrenocorticotrophic hormone (ACTH):
 
"ACTH has a melanotrophic part, melanocyte-stimulating hormone (MSH), that may affect RPE cells, which are melanin-pigmented cells of neuroectoderm origin,  and alter their ionic pumping properties. This is supported by evidence in the literature for the effect of MSH on animal RPE cells, as well as on other secreting epithelia."
 
Melanotan and melanotan II are are both analogs of (alpha) MSH and thus sharing the same effects. Therefore it can be assumed that my condition is connected to the prolonged intake of melanotan II.
 
I then checked back with my doctor and was advised to stop taking Melanotan immediately.
 
I also made an appointment with the director of the dermatology department on our university (I'm a medical student myself) to get an expert opinion on Melanotan. He had heard of Melanotan before, but he would strongly discourage anyone from taking it especially for merely cosmetic purposes.
Though it may be beneficial to some people with certain skin diseases, it certainly bears great risks. He also didn't seem to be surprised about my case at all. Because the choroid (the underlying layer of the eye's retina) contains melanocytes, it will also be necessarily affected by Melanotan which in turn may effect the function of the retina. He also warned me about hormone and skin changes, which are probably not fully reversible even after being off of Melanotan for a very long time.  There is a study that says MSH (again, Melanotan is just a synthetic copy of MSH) not only stimulates the melanocytes to produce melanin, but also cause proliferation of melanocytes:
 
"alpha-Melanocyte stimulating hormone (alpha-MSH) and ACTH increase the proliferation and melanogenesis of cultured human melanocytes."
 
This is quite contrary to an older study from 1986 which is cited on Clinuvel's website. Personally, I would not put much trust in studies published by Clinuvel. They are not obligated to release informations about dangers connected to Melanotan at this point. And I doubt they will voluntary discredit their only product.
 
Being a type I myself nobody can understand you better than I but there certainly are things in life that are more important than having a tanned skin. Don't put them at risk.
 
Actually, I curse the day when I first heard of Melanotan.
 
Zamir E (1997): "Central serous retinopathy associated with adrenocorticotrophic hormone therapy. A case report and a hypothesis". Hadassah University Hospital, Jerusalem, Israel
 
I Suzuki et al. (1996): "Binding of melanotropic hormones to the melanocortin receptor MC1R on human melanocytes stimulates proliferation and melanogenesis" Department of Dermatology, University of Cincinnati, Ohio, USA

Sorry to hear about your eye problems.
 
Can you expand on "vision problems" ? What problems did you first notice?
 
Also , see you posted this on the other board and it has been removed and you have been banned too!

Quote from uktanner on 07/08/07 at 14:11:27:

 
As we all know, melanocytes produce melanin when stimulated by UV exposure or MSH. But much stimulation due to excessive sun exposure or a very potent MC1R-agonist like Melanotan can cause the melanocytes to proliferate. This may explain the new moles, freckles or hyperpigmentation (which is well known to occur with high levels of ACTH also) that many people experience (including me). This is more of cosmetic concern but can mean a greater overall risk for skin cancer (which is completely independent of the melanin protecting effect trigged by melanotan). Also in case of the choroid it may have an visual impairment effect.

I also have vision problems after starting a cycle of melanotan II last year. Went to see opthalmalogist and retinal specialist, and at first was thought it was macular degeneration (bad), but then just diagnosed as abormal retina, with a grainy apperance. This cuases static in my vision, kind of like pixels on a computer.

I don't want to scare people but I really do believe this is important to know for everybody.
 
There has been much talk about short-term sides of Melanotan, but this could be a long-term effect which should be taken seriously as it may effect virtually every melanotan user in the long run.
As mentioned in the study above, there is established evidence that alpha-MSH effects the RPE cells in the retinal pigment epithelium (possibly via the melanocytes in the underlying choroid) which can eventually lead to retinal disease. If this is true for alpha-MSN, then it must also be true for melanotan of course.
 
Overall I must have injected around 130 mg of melanotan II during 4 cycles and maintenance. I was doing 0.5-1.5mg per shot.  
 
Ordered from Muscle-Research and Melanocorp. I have no reason to think that there was something wrong with the stuff.
I experienced enhanced libido, vivid dreams and slight flu-like symptoms in the beginning. But nothing serious.

It was pretty sudden onset, if i can recall. Maybe my vision wasn't as sharp for a while, but the static/sparkles were sudden onset. I probably did the same amount as you overall. No vision problems before melanotan II. Vision hasn't gotten any better/worse. I also have floaters, mainly when I look up at the sky.

I thought this was a good description of the condition ( I am not endorsing this eye center or physian )
 
http://www.checdocs.org/centralret.htm
 
The  CSR could just be a coincidence, you male 20yr to 50, Med student- high stress level.
 
The choroid nevus may be more a result of melanotan II.?

Robbie, thanks for sharing this with us. A couple questions for you, and others who are having eye problems:
 
1- What color are your eyes originally, and have they changed colors?
2- a.Did you where sunglasses all the time when in the sun, not just while "sunbathing"? b.Did you wear sunglasses at all, even while sunbathing?
3- Any family history of eye disease?
4- What was your dosage pattern, the highest mgs you where on at any one time?
 
Lets see if there is a pattern anywhere......

hmm, this is pretty interesting!!  as  caroloverland asked, what colour are your eyes etc, this would be interestin to know as different colour eyes tend to react differently to things, even my physiotherapist said that blue eyes/ green eyes are more prone to getting light headed when he works on them.
 
i have perfect vision, which would be expected of a 19year old.  but because of my line of work, mecahnical drawer (draftsperson) i am constantly infront of a computer screen.  with this my eyes are always strained, they tend to get 'pixilated' and watery and hurt like hell by the end of the day, so when it comes to driving an hour home from work, i struggle to see/ focus when i drive.  
 
so with this it would be hard for me to tell if the melanotan is effecting my eyes, what were your symptoms?  and how often shoould  i have a check up to see if i have done damage?
 
thanks

My dermatologist told me a situation like this would occur when I ask for her advice on melanotan almost a year ago.