Anyone had eye problems? Just come back from a lo... - LUPUS UK

LUPUS UK

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Anyone had eye problems? Just come back from a long appointment at optitians , quite worried.

crankyme profile image
4 Replies

Ok I put my hands up as a lot of us are known to put off going so it has been around three years since my last eye check, The optitian was very thorough and took some images of the backs of my eyes ,all looked reasonably healthy apart from patches of purply grey on the whites of my eyes, I explained that I had been on hydroxychloraquin for a few months and the fact that i have lupus but she says I would have to be taking hydroxy for about three years or more before i would notice any change.

my sight has worsened considerably and she issued me a new prescription and also said she intends to write to my g.p to see if he thinks the dark patches need further investigation at the eye infirmary needless to say I am very worried.

Is this another syptom of lupus? Can anyone advise please.

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crankyme profile image
crankyme
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4 Replies
hazelHollingsworth profile image
hazelHollingsworth

Hi, I have been Hydroxy... for 27 years and yes it has caused Very mild Glaucoma, I have also had cataracts removed but as I am 67 this year I would probably had to have had them done at some stage. I also for many years suffered from 'Dry Eye' and used drops during the day and Gel at night and hardly causes any problems. I would suggest that you ask your doctor to refer you to your nearest Eye clinic at a hospital and take your FULL medication list with you. I have found the extremely helpful. I have now also started with Dry Mouth and my teeth are crumbling - pity my dentist did not refer me sooner I would still have had more teeth. Again the Eye hospital were marvelous and now I have no problems with the medication they gave me, they said that when they new I had 'dry eye' they should have referred me to them as the two things generally go together. I hope this might have been of some help.xx

sezzie profile image
sezzie

Hi crankyme,

I don't have the same symptoms as you however the last few months I have suffered from dry eye (diagnosed by my optician) and I am using eye drops during the day and gel at night but they still feel dry and itchy. Sorry I can't be of more help and I hope you get things sorted soon. Sarah X

sezzie profile image
sezzie in reply to sezzie

Ps I've been on hydroxy for a year now but they do say that you have to be on high doses for years before your at risk of it affecting your eye sight. Perhaps you should get a referral to an ophthalmologist which my optician has done with me as the pressures behind my eyes are very high and my sight has been affected. Good luck.

kazp profile image
kazp

No major need to worry at all. Hydroxychloroquine is used to dampen inflammation in lupusl is usually used for long term disease control, rather than in the short term to control active bursts of inflammation. It has important but uncommon side effects that may affect your eye.The most important affect of Hydrox on your eye is to damage the retina at the back of your eye. Fortunately, this is very uncommon and generally only occurs in patients on high doses or patients with bad kidney function . please try not to worry and take care

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