Eye Problems while on Tx

[kitkat14]

Someone in one of the threads mentioned eye problems as possibly being one of the side effects of tx.  Are we talking about a problem with vision, pressure on the eyes, dry eyes or something else.  Has tx been known to cause permanent vision problems?

[Andiamo1]

Retinal hemorrhage can be serious.  Cotton wool spots can be precursors to a retinal hemorrhage.  Both can be side effects of interferon and are usually mild.  In most all cases they resolve with no permanent damage.

You should definitely see a specialist while you are treating.  It is good to get a thorough checkup of your retina before and during treatment to make sure there are no serious problems developing.

[meakea]

I started TX a week ago Friday and on Tuesday my eyeballs started feeling sore when I moved my eyes up/down and side/side and they were also extra dry.  My eyes are also tender to touch them.  It didn't improve by Friday so, I got a last minute appt with my eye doc rather than worrying about it all weekend.   He did some basic tests but didn't dilate my eyes to look at the optic nerve (which I figured he would do) and he just told me to come back in a week if it got worse.  Also told me to use artificial tears for the dry eye thing, which I was already doing.

So, my eyes still hurt when I move them, mainly at the top, but seems my eye doc isn't concerned.  

[geterdone]

Just a mention here of any preexisting eye conditions such as cataracts, I had my trifocal prescription adjusted a year before treating and the standard testing as well all of which was good except for a small cataract in my right eye. The blurred vision experienced during the course of treatment was accepted as a side effects of the interferon and had dealt with the different vision osculation and the photosensitivity to the sun light which triggered headaches and nausea about four months into treatment and the progression from there to the end of treatment was double vision at night and starlets around lights. I had stopped driving at night towards the end of treatment because of seeing double and had trouble with depth perception and the only way to partially correct it was to cover one eye. I was hoping everything would go back to normal going into the 3 month post tx and did except for the double vision and depth perception, it did not, so I went back to my ophthalmologist and had my eyes rechecked and the small cataract just to the left of the optic nerve in the right eye had expanded, and started to haze over closer to the optic nerve which was causing the present conditions. Can it be blamed on the interferon, who knows, but I did not have these drastic vision changes before treatment and the long, short of it is surgery to have the lens replaced. Treatment is a **** shoot without knowing what might crop up during the duration of these meds until the end.

My question here would be how many have had their eyes check before treatment or was even informant by their GI or Hep doctors to have an eye exam before starting treatment barring the above mentioned medical conditions and people involved in trials.? Probably not a lot.

jasper

[Trish77]

Hi kitkat, I'm farsighted and wear bifocals to be able to read.  I've noticed my vision deteriorating as well and mentioned it to my treatment doc.  We all agree that it's a side effect of the drugs and that getting a new prescription doesn't make sense in my case as I can still read, I just notice I have to try a bit harder to do it.  The only way to deal with the deteriorating vision would be to stop the drugs and that's just overkill in my case. If it got really bad.. well, I'm not willing to lose my vision, but that's not my situation here.  Even if it doesn't get better after I'm done interferon, we won't know until then so I'm just hanging in there with it as long as it doesn't get to be more of a concern (which I doubt it will in my case) and then when I'm done the drugs, I'll see where it goes and get a new prescription for my glasses if required.

I agree with Trinity and the others that all of these things are very individual and should be mentioned to your doctor and checked out and decisions made based on how it impacts each person.

Hope it's just minor for you.

Trish

[Marcia2202]

This disease and the sides of tx are so unpredictable. You never know what you'll get.

My eyes have become extremely sensitive to sunlight. And when I go from a spot in my home where there is a lot of sunlight to another room I can hardly see anything for a while. I guess it's not only the skin which becomes photosensitive, but also the eyes.

[Fl_Gator]

I have been on tx for 14 weeks...I have noticed that my reading glasses don't work as well as they did pre tx...BUT!...Before tx I had "cotton wool spots" for years that were very annoying and they seem to be clearing now. I don't understand it but I like it....

[fretboard]

There have been serious eye problems identified with the Peg.  I have a friend on a clinical trial and she had the sx's of "cotton wool spots".  Not to scare anyone, and to make myself clear it is a very low percentile of patients who suffer from this ailment.  Anyways, they had to cut her Peg in half for a month or so till they ran other tests, and she is doing alot better now.  She's still UND, also she is diabetic.  God Bless

[Rockerforlife]

Last time i was on tx...i had eye discomfort,best way i can describe is,like pressure on the back of my eyes...not really painful...just annoying...popping tyenol helped.

[Trinity4]

It is recommended that everyone undergo an eye exam prior to beginning interferon therapy but especially those with high blood pressure or diabetes.   Anyone who develops any visual disturbances while on interferon should report this symptom immediately to their doctor. Dry, itchy, bloodshot eyes may be treated with over-the–counter saline eye drops or Natural Tears. When eye problems are accompanied by decreased vision, evaluation by an ophthalmologist is necessary.  In these circumstances, interferon may need to be discontinued, depending upon the severity of symptoms.  Typically eye problems resolve once interferon use is stopped.

[kitkat14]

Thanks for answering.  A retinal hemorrhage doesn't sound all that minor.  Did you experience any warning signs beforehand?  I've been treating for 17 weeks and I've recently noticed that my vision is deteriorating somewhat, and I didn't know if that was one of the side effects.
k

[Andiamo1]

That was me posting that I had a retinal hemorrhage.  The doc said it is common for interferon to cause that, but it rarely is severe enough to cause permanent damage.  In my case it was not a problem.