I have been on Hydroxychloroquine 200 twice a day for a year.
When I was put on it my pharmacist told me I needed a yearly eye test which my specialist nurse confirmed when I saw her this week.
The optician told me last year two yearly eye tests are fine but as my specialist nurse said yearly I went into my opticians this morning and they are blaming the NHS for not allowing a yearly check.
Is anyone else that is on this drug being informed the same?
I'm 66 so don't pay for my eye tests now but would do for reassurance.
Thank you for reading any advise will be welcome. Delia. X
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d-creasey
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The recommendations have changed. Now you should have a baseline screening during the first year of taking hydroxy, and then move to annual screening after you have been taking it for 5 years as the risks during the first 5 years are extremely low.
Here is a link to the guidance from the Royal College of Ophalmologists - who should know!
I had eye problems about 8 months following start of Hydroxychloroquine. Opticians referred on and eventually saw an eye specialist at the hospital. By the time I saw them had stopped Hydroxychloroquine due to migraines which started about a year of starting it. They said that it's good that I stopped it and shouldn't go back on it.
Yes I get a 12 month check on hydroxy I saw eye consultant a few months ago and he said he would notify my ra consultant as I should have been referred I went for a different check as I had floaters which are harmless but he said I should be seen my them because of being on hydxy
My Rheumy told me to have my eyes checked before starting on hydroxychoroquine & every 9-12 months which I did. Then last yr because I’d on the meds for five yrs he booked me in for a more thorough eye test at the hospital. All was good & they’ve already booked me in again for later on this yr.
My eyes have suddenly done a huge change. They are blamibg the hydroxychloraquine. Been on it 4 1/2 yrs. Never had these special tests. I have a good optician who now says 6 monthly tests essential and is referring me to hospital.
I was told to have a baseline before I started then annually. I don’t pay for my eye tests as I’m on the contact lens scheme with my pharmacist but I’ve never been told I can’t have an eye test. My optician always says gets rather see me sooner rather than later if I think there’s a problem xx
I am 64 and have been on Hydroxychloroquine for around 4 years. The receptionist at my Optician told me I could only have a free test every two years but when I spoke to the Optician himself he agreed to the annual check and I have not had a problem since. Change your Optician.
Good advise I am thinking of doing this. Thank you. X
I had my eyes checked yearly at the hospital eye department as part of monitoring whilst on hydroxychloroquine. Rheumatology referred me initially for it and asked for it to be done yearly. How strange that all care for the same treatment is different.
Hi Delia if your optician continues to refuse ...ask your GP for a letter prescribing yearly tests. I have had yearly eye checks for years even though I’m not on hydroxy.
Have you asked Specsavers.....they have contracts with the NHS and maybe more amenable than an Independent optician?
Or as you say if it is just another cost-cutting exercise, like you I would pay for it myself ..... I think it’s only around £20 isn’t it ?
It's Specsavers I'm with. I've used them for years but in another town. This one is new to my town and I've only used them once so I have not built a relationship with them yet.
I'm thinking seriously of going back to the old one.
Hi Delia....I know what do you mean ....in the town that I am in the Specsavers used to be brilliant but the franchise was sold on and to me the new staff seemed a bit slap dash.....so I changed opticians to a sole practitioner & am happier with the service. I buy my specs on line & I’m very happy with that.
Luckily my drugs don’t affect my eyes,but I still want a professional correct eye test and all the other tests they do these days.
Like you I would rather pay than let something that needs attention be ignored.
I wasn’t very clear above .....I meant you can have it Free on the NHS, every two years after you are 60, then after you are 70 you can have it yearly!
Well I think that’s what I mean ! I think I had better increase the font size on my iPad !
I’ve been on them for 4 years and like everyone else I had an eye test just before starting them then a yearly test thereafter and never been charged. Look into other opticians see what they do
d-creasey, in my first year I had an optician say it’s not necessary to have a test each year as the risk is low on the early years you’d have to be taking them for many years to have these risks...but after consulting this information with my Rheumatologist’s he said this is so wrong that he has had patients with eye problems early so it’s imperative to be tested each year. I’m glad I checked and then changed my optician. I wouldn’t always go by what the optician says as your consultant is the ones who knows the disease best as well as medical scientist. I hope you get on well with this medication as it has worked wonders for me but took time. A bit of a tip from a scientist is to take both your tablets at the same time not separate as they’re not as effective. Good Luck keep us posted 🤗 xoxo
Hi. I am on Hydroxychloroquine as well and my optician at Vision Express said that I don't need extra eye test because of this. He said I just need to use an eye drops for dry eyes. He was a horrible optician...I almost cried when I left.
That is shocking - you most certainly do need extra eye tests! I would definitely go somewhere else. See my reply further down with the codes optician’s can use them ensure there are no problems getting an annual test if a doctor has recommended it.
I thought yearly I went last week and my optician said the recommendations have changed recently and he would be writing to the hospital as they should be monitored more frequently
I believe you are wrongly informed as I have been on Hydroxychloroquine for 10+ years and in the last 3 years my Rheumatologist has insisted on me having annual eye tests at my opticians as well as going to a specialist eye hospital once a year for in depth checks of the back of the eyes as this is where they check for the changes that can occur as a side effect of the medication.
Please insist, as these changes can be quite subtle to begin with so it's best for the hospital to have a baseline to compare from year to year. Good luck.
I've taken HCQ for 10 years and never been referred to a hospital optician. I tend to wait for a free Specsavers (or Boots) voucher before I have an eye test. I read that the risks of hydroxychloroquine retinopathy can be 7 patients in 100, after taking it for 5 years. This risk can increase to 20-50% for patients taking it 20 years plus.
I don't think HCQ has been that effective (despite 10 years of it) and intend to discuss stopping it when I get a rheumatology appointment (still waiting after 3 cancellations!).
Same here BoneyC, never seen the hospital optician and I just go annually to Specsavers costing £10 with a voucher. They seem very thorough and do extra checks as they know what meds I’m on.
Nonsense! I'm currently working in rheumatology and the advice is still initial eye test for baseline before treatment commences and then annually for as long as you are on Hydroxychloroquine. I've never had problems getting annual checks, even since hitting 60 and getting them free. I'd recommend you find another optician.
Hello. I've been on this drug for over 5 years now, and was told to have yearly eye checks, which I always have on the NHS. 200 mg twice a day. I had a text message from my doctor saying she has noticed I've been on it for over 5 years, so has referred me to Opthalmology dept. How good is that. I didn't even need to ask. I was always advised to have yearly checks not 2 yearly. Good luck, hope you get some more info , it's always worrying when you get conflicting advice.
I've received my copy of my Gp's letter this morning and my specialist has added to the letter that I need yearly eye checks.
I am going to try my old opticians and show the letter, which is the same company but in a different town, if they say no as well I will try the independent practices in town.
If no one will check me yearly then I will go back to the team looking after me.
I do not want to stop this drug as it's taken 10 years to get my RA under control, and this is my wonder drug but I am not going to put my sight at risk.
You can get an NHS eye test done every year if your optician puts it on a Code 5.1 that is for a sight test at the request of a medical practitioner which is why you want it done. Code 5.3 is identified in protocols as needing to be seen more frequently because of risk factors and there are risk factors involved with taking hydroxychloroquine.
Do you know you can download an Amsler chart and keep a check on your eyes in between eye tests. It’s very important to keep an eye on your eyes if you have sudden severe blurring or drop in your vision or there is distortion on the Amsler chart go straight to A&E . That’s for England and Wales.
Look for an optometrist who has access to an OCT scanner - you will have to pay between £20 and £40 for that but it’s well worth it. Ask around and you will find out who has one.
The same codes may apply in Scotland but I don’t know for sure - but there must be something.
I was on 200 ( 2 times daily) my for 6 months, I spoke to my Rhomatologist, and now I am taking one 200mg , and hopefully stop it soon, it have have one eye test, then next is 5 years after. Hopefully nothing wrong.
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