Don't let your guard down

[toby47]

I have 3 more shots left and thats great. So I was going to let slide my app't with the opto doc ,figuring  I'm done with this crap, no more problems.Had been having flashes and a new floater in my eye, didn't think it was that big a deal.This morning doc said I had several tears in my retina and did laser surg to fix them. If not treated leads to retina detachment.We have so many things happen to us that we have to ignore because there sx of drugs, that we start to become immune to the possibility of having real damage.Out of our control doesn't mean we shouldn't still get them checked out I guess.Happy holidays

[flcyclist]

Wow, nice catch and good you caught it in time to correct it.  Hope the remaining 3 weeks go well and we here an SVR report down the road.  Seems like you just started a few weeks ago.  As they say, time flies like an arrow; fruit flies like a banana.  :o)

[pooh55811]

I am sorry to hear you had retinal problems from the HCV treatment. I hope your eyes will be okay now after treatment.

[pooh55811]

Both Ribavirin and Interferon can cause serious eye problems:

http://www.drugs.com/sfx/ribavirin-side-effects.html

Adverse Reactions: Ribavirin: Ocular

"Ocular side effects associated with oral ribavirin in combination with peginterferon alfa-2a, peginterferon alfa-2b, or interferon alfa-2b have included blurred vision (up to 6%). Corneal ulcer has been reported in less than 1% of patients treated with peginterferon alfa-2a alone or in combination with ribavirin tablets. Conjunctivitis (up to 5%) has been reported with ribavirin capsules/oral solution in combination with peginterferon alfa-2b or interferon alfa-2b. Serous retinal detachment has been reported during postmarketing experience with oral ribavirin in combination with peginterferon alfa-2a, interferon alfa-2b, or peginterferon alfa-2b. "


Interferon:

http://www.nature.com/eye/journal/v17/n4/full/6700391a.html

"INF-alpha therapy has been known to cause a variety of ocular lesions.1,2 Typical lesions include cottonwool spots and retinal haemorrhages at the posterior fundus, particularly around the optic disc, secondary to retinal ischaemia, which usually appear within 3 months of the onset of therapy."

[beeblessed]

Hi.  Excellent reminder!!  I pray your eyes will be alright.  You are right, it is easy to put things off or forget during tx that it may indicate a bigger problem.  I have had an eye infection for some time now but did not realize it and thought they symptoms would go away on their own.  Well, I was put on antibiotic eyedrops 4 times a day!  But couldn't keep up with them, though I tried.  So now I am on different ones, more for an allergic reaction than infection, once a day at bedtime.  Our eyes give us clues all the time (flashes, flickers, tearing, itching, blurriness) but they are often easy to miss if they are not painful.

[fretboard]

I wonder what caused the retina to tear in the first place?  Is that something that's caused by outside factors besides the HepC drugs?  Lucky for you for staying on top of it.  good luck with the rest of your journey!

[toby47]

Its the interferon, but don't let it scare you just be aware so that your able to be in control and get a check upevery month or when needed maybe. Good luck with your tx

[candyce1953]

Wow I hope u will b ok!
This really scares me as I already have eye problems
Am seeing eye md January b 4 I start 3x with Vic
And afraid of that

Is it the interferon that can or RIBA or other?