Health authorities have moved to further restrict the sale of poppers in a move welcomed by ophthalmologists but met with opposition from gay activists.

The Therapeutic Goods Administration has proposed to change the scheduling of alkyl nitrites to make it so products including the group of chemicals - such as amyl nitrite - could be sold only as machine lubricants.

Steven Spencer at his home in Surry Hills, Sydney. Credit:Dean Sewell

This would effectively further restrict the sale of what are commonly known as poppers: inhalants recreationally used to relax muscles in the body for clubbing or sex.

The reasoning, according to the TGA, is that ophthalmologists had told the authority of an increase in patients with retinal damage caused by the recreational use of particularly amyl nitrite.