black string like eye floater

[streamline569]

I've developed on black string like floater, I finished tx on thursday and has an eye exam to get glasses on Friday and she knew the drugs I was taking will this go away or should I call another eye doctor.Still have pain behind my eyes but I've only been off triple therapy four days. Shouldn't she have seen it on friday eye exam

[streamline569]

Actually it Tuesday the appt. I am off medication almost 2 weeks now. have been to an optometrist for glasses and eye exam. and will see the doctor soon. Just really want to know what causes this eye pain and if  nothing is found if they can give you something to ease the eye pain.

[pooh55811]

Personally, if I was having severe eye pain and other eye problems, I would call that eye doctor back, reiterate that you are on meds that can cause severe and damaging eye problems, and request for an emergency appointment, for today. In my opinion, waiting another week is not a good idea and the eye doctor should know that. Most doctors, eye and otherwise, are set up to be able to see emergency visits the same day a person calls.

Please try to get see today or ASAP.

[streamline569]

I have appt on Wed. awful pain this morning in eye ball. Wondering if that's where all my headaches are originating from. Answers soon I hope.

[working dog]

thanks for that info....my eyes still hurt...not that bad though..but most of the time...before tx i was examined and fine..now lots of cotton wool spots...some retina stuff too...i still have good vision...4+ weeks post tx...my next appointment is in a couple months...i think i caught it on time and will be fine...billy

[toby47]

I've had some eye problems.Go to opto immediately because they can get serious.Even if the problem goes away see an opto. My problem was floaters and flashes and I had retinal tear that had tbe lasered. Some eye problems like cotton wool spots may resolve themselves, but not all. My eyes still feel very strained easily.

[streamline569]

Yes she new of the drugs I was taken but I don't think she did a complete eye exam because I was there just for glasses. No eye drop exam. I just noticed the floaters as my eyes still hurt. I had a pre exam before starting. I think it's time for a follow up with the original Eye doctor. She has my previous records to compare with. Thanks for the advice. It was what I knew I should do. Just wondering why she didn't notice anything out of the ordinary. She said she had authorized these drugs before. I guess it's always another appt. for a different problem. Doctors never ending.....

[Bill1954]

I think ophthalmologic issues are attributed to interferon and not PIs or ribavirin. Be sure you schedule an appointment with a ophthalmologist, not an optometrist.

IFN has been associated with eye problems; this is from one of the mfgrs:

“Decrease or loss of vision, retinopathy including macular edema, retinal artery or vein thrombosis, retinal hemorrhages and cotton wool spots, optic neuritis, and papilledema may be induced or aggravated by treatment with peg-intron alpha 2b or other alpha interferons. All patients should receive an eye examination at baseline. Patients with preexisting disorders (e.g. diabetic or hypertensive retinopathy) should receive periodic ophthalmologic exams during interferon alpha treatment. Any patient who develops ocular symptoms should receive a prompt and complete eye examination. Pegintron alpha 2b should be discontinued in patients who develop new or worsening ophthalmologic disorders.”

www.spfiles.com/pipeg-intron.pdf

--Bill

[pooh55811]

Did you have the floater when she examined you? Did you have the eye pain when she examined you. Did you tell her about any symptoms you were having? Is she an opthamologist?

Personaly, if it was me, I would get a thorough eye exam ASAP, including retinal scanning. You do not want to take any chances knowing that these drugs can cause serious eye problems.

(I had a thorough baseline eye exam and a retinal scan prior to starting treatment and again 2 months into treatment.)