Bleed in eye- because of statins??

[Iona57]

Three days ago I started statins- atorvastatin 10 mg. On the third morning I had a bloodied area on the white of my right 'trabeculectomy' eye.According to the optician I saw today it's just a subconjunctival haemorrhage. But I'm not prone to these, and my eye has not looked this bad, even after the trab surgery in June.

Has anyone else noticed a connection between statins and these bleeds?

[Astilbe]

I have been taking atorvostatin 20 mg for 18 months now. I also have a trabulectomy in one eye and presserflo shunt in the other. I have not noticed any bleeding in my eyes.

[Iona57 in reply to Astilbe]

Thanks very much. Good to hear.

[Cuzz in reply to Iona57]

I haven’t had any problems either and have been on Atorvastatin for 4 years now.

[muddledme]

Hello Iona57,

I am not on Statins because I tend to have multiple reactions to drugs following drug induced Lupus.

Thank you for mentioning the haemorrhage though ,as it is so difficult to know of side effects versus chance. I am suspicious of Vit B3 at 500gms as I had a retinal bleed . So I have cut the dose down dramatically, especially as I have an imminent retinal operation.

The Vit B3 was excellent for lowering my cholesterol whilst on the 500mg dose , but has crept up again with the lower dose. I am currently trying high strength garlic and will request another blood test in a few months.

Best wishes

[Iona57 in reply to muddledme]

Hi Muddledme,Thanks for your reply. I didn't know B3 could lower cholesterol.

[muddledme in reply to Iona57]

Yes, I was surprised how much it reduced cholesterol. Apparently Nicotinamide was used years ago before Statins came along. My cholesterol dropped from over 7 to about 5 in about 6-12 months with no other changes . It had never been recorded as low as 5 before as I believe it is genetically raised.

[woodthorpe]

Dear Iona57, There are many warnings and precautions listed for Atorvastatin, but subconjunctival haemorrhage, (SCH), is not one of them - and you're on the lowest dose. An SCH can look rather alarming, but usually clears within a few days . I've had a couple of them myself in the past; they are quite common but unpredictable. You did the right thing consulting your optician. Yours, Woodthorpe.

[Iona57 in reply to woodthorpe]

Dear Woodthorpe,Thank you for your reply. I've just re-checked the ( rather terrifying) list of Atorvastatin side effects and certainly SCH isn't on there. However, I notice that under 'Rare, up to 1 in 1000 people' it does list ' unexpected bleeding and bruising '. I don't know if that's relevant.

Anyway, I'll re start the tablets once the eye has cleared, and see what happens!

All the best,

Iona57

[whitedog]

Hi

I had a haemorrhage in my right eye a few years ago. Cleared up after about a week.

My optician checked with the hospital who weren't concerned - they said it was probably linked to the existing uveitis issues I have in that eye.

[Iona57 in reply to whitedog]

Thank you Whitedog. Seems as though bleeds are ' just one of those things'.

[EmmaEyeCoach_AI]

Subconjunctival hemorrhages, which appear as a bloodied area on the white part of the eye, can be alarming but are usually harmless and resolve on their own within one to two weeks. They can be caused by a variety of factors, including minor trauma, sudden increases in blood pressure (such as from coughing or sneezing), or even certain medications.

While statins like atorvastatin are primarily used to lower cholesterol and reduce the risk of cardiovascular events, they are not commonly associated with causing subconjunctival hemorrhages. However, statins can have side effects, and individual responses to medications can vary.

Here are a few considerations and recommendations:

1.⁠ ⁠Monitor the Hemorrhage: Keep an eye on the subconjunctival hemorrhage. It should gradually improve over the next week or two. If it worsens or if you experience additional symptoms such as pain, vision changes, or recurrent hemorrhages, seek medical attention.

2.⁠ ⁠Medication Review: Discuss your concerns with your prescribing physician. They can review your medication regimen and determine if the statin could be contributing to the issue or if there might be another underlying cause.

3.⁠ ⁠Blood Pressure Check: Ensure your blood pressure is well-controlled, as sudden spikes can contribute to subconjunctival hemorrhages.

4.⁠ ⁠Eye Protection: Be mindful of protecting your eyes from trauma, even minor bumps or rubbing, which can cause these hemorrhages.

5.⁠ ⁠Follow-Up: Since you have had trabeculectomy surgery, it’s important to follow up with your ophthalmologist to ensure there are no complications related to your surgery or underlying eye condition.

If you have any further questions or concerns, please feel free to ask.

[Iona57 in reply to EmmaEyeCoach_AI]

Hi Emma,/AI While this is a helpful reply, I would have preferred transparency that this is an AI generated reply, and not from a real person .