Voltaren (Diclofenac) and Vitreous Floaters

[dustybrown]

Has anyone here developed vitreous floaters in their eyes while taking the medication Voltaren (Diclofenac)? I have developed some in my left eye. On the marketing material it states that some people taking the medication have been known to have developed floaters, but it wasn't during the drug trials and it was less than 1% of the people taking it.

It was enough people that my Ophthalmologist agreed with my decision to discontinue the med, but it worked so well for me I just wanted to double check to see if this happened to other people. I can't tolerate any other prescription NSAID. I am running out of options, but I don't want anymore floaters!!!

[John C Hagan III, MD, FACS, FAAO]

You're welcome and good luck. I"ve had floaters since age 10 and can pull them out of my subconscious suppression anytime.

JCH MD

[dustybrown]

I hear what you are saying. The reason I am so confused is because I take a couple other medication and no such incidence have ever been reported on the prescribing information. My pharmacist has heard of this happening and I was hoping find another person who had experienced this phenomenon, or perhaps to finally put this worry of mine to rest.

What I will probably do is work with my Rheumatologist and Ophthalmologist and go back on Voltaren. I'll keep a log or diary of my floaters and if I notice and increase in floaters just discontinue the medication permanently. Then I'll know for sure if there is a correlation between the med and the floaters I am guessing. Thanks for your help.

[John C Hagan III, MD, FACS, FAAO]

If you look at the prescribing information of any drug you will see almost any condition the human being is subject to get. Because of FDA rules in packaging they have to include these even though they are incidental.

For instance you can't do a study of a medication taken twice/day for 6 months on say 500 people without having to report indigestion, headaches, diarrhea, arthritis, etc etc etc etc.

JCH MD

[dustybrown]

Hello John,
Thanks for your response. I understand your point. I am curious though as to why then the development of vitreous floaters would be presented on the prescribing information document for the drug by the drug company as a possible side effect of the special senses? I never had floaters before the treatment. It could be, like you said just a part of aging and a just a strange coincidence, but why would they even bother mentioning it if it wasn't a side effect?

[John C Hagan III, MD, FACS, FAAO]

1. No floaters and voltaren are not connected
2. use the search feature and read about floaters. No one wants them but they're part of even health eyes as we get older

JCH MD