Paquenil was recently added to my regimen. When reading the side effects, I am really afraid of the possibility of permanent eye problems, including blindness. Has anyone had any eye problems from using this drug? Should I have an eye exam and if so, what should they be checking for?
Posted by karenl (Member # 17753) on :
I had eye problems after a few days on plaquenil. Was like a stroke but I think just the vein was obstructed. I still have a cotton wool spot from then, they could not resolve this problem. Had vision problems then for years like blurred vision ....
I have to go on plaquenil again but always put it off. Would be intereted how many people had eye problems - unfortunately these are not able to work on the computer, so we probably never get the real number.
It is not 100 per cent sure that an eye problem is from plaquenil or it could have happened also without plaquenil.
Posted by sammy (Member # 13952) on :
You should have a baseline eye exam done before you start Plaquenil. Your eye doctor will be familiar with what to watch for. Many people take Plaquenil for other diseases like Rheumatoid arthritis.
My eye doctor suggested follow up exams every year with visual field testing. He also gave me a vision chart to look at once a week to make sure that I'm not having any noticeable changes in my visual field.
Posted by triathletelymie (Member # 26456) on :
Thanks Karen and Sammy for the info...much appreciated!
Posted by Lymeorsomething (Member # 16359) on :
Like Karen, I had sides within the first few weeks of starting Plaq...eye strain and bleeding gums.
I'm willing to push through a lot of things but eye involvement is not one of those things.
It is a regimen of choice often for auto-immune aspects of lyme and probably should be tried by those who can tolerate both Biaxin and Plaq together.
I love Biaxin but am not sure if I'm willing to try Plaq again even though it may be a useful drug.
Posted by lyme in Putnam (Member # 11561) on :
My son went to Dr. J. and he put him on 200 mg. plaquenil (he was 10 yrs old). My son had iritis from having lyme. I asked Dr. J. and he said from 800 mg. on might cause eye problems. my son was no where near the amt at 200mg. My sons iritis cleared up within a few months of steroid drops and he's off everything now. He's 15. The plaquenil was for the lyme, not the iritis. Good luck.
Posted by EyeBob (Member # 12572) on :
PM me, I will tell you what's what. Plaquenil doesn't cause vascular occlusions nor does it cause eye strain as suggested by others. The incidence of maculopathy related to it's short term use is rare....and....generally reversible. If your Amsler grid shows any changes call and see your eye doc.
Posted by Lymeorsomething (Member # 16359) on :
Well, it definitely caused a sensation of eye strain for me. Whether or not that side was herx or med-related is debatable. There were no other variables at work at the time.
Posted by erikjh1972 (Member # 20964) on :
i believe i read somewhere 1 in 1000 will experience eye trouble. but certain risk factors will increase incidents. i.e. over the age of 60, liver, kidney problems.
since its mainly used for RA you have ti figure most , not all of those problems were in older people.
Posted by hurtingramma (Member # 7770) on :
I asked my eye Dr. when I first started on it and he told me that a person would have to be on it for many, many years for it to cause problems. He's been in practice for a very long time (just retired) and is considered an expert in the area.
I have a "plaquenil" check done by him every year, and there has never been any change.