Issues with the macular (part of the eye) wihile on RA medication?

[Hoffster1984]

Hi everyone.

I have had RA since 2016 and it has always been managed really well. Has anyone else had issues with their macular (part of the eye) with RA - particularly if on hydroxychloroquine or methotrexate?

I went for an eye test and the optometrist said I had suffered a couple of tiny macular haemorrhages on my eye.

Could possibly be due to my medication, they advised.

Thanks!

[springcross]

Hi Hoffster. I was diagnosed with wet AMD in one eye over two years ago and RA just over a year ago, but I really think I've had it probably quite some time before then. I did inform my opthalmologist when I was diagnosed with RA and told him that I was injecting MTX and asked if there would be any problems with the drug, he said no. I was put on Sulfasalazine also in June which I took for ten weeks but stopped six weeks ago and I felt after a few weeks that my eyesight was becoming a little bit worse.

[Boxerlady]

They recommend that you have annual eye tests when on Hydroxychloroquine although I think that eye problems are very rare.

[Hoffster1984 in reply to Boxerlady]

Boxerlady Yes, that's what I was told when I first went on the meds. Vision is excellent though and no issues to report!

[Neonkittie17]

Hi Hoffster, sorry to hear this. I haven’t personally had any eye difficulties with Mtx and I’ve taken it for many years. (I am just more and more long sighted as I get older. Who needs binoculars?!) I was advised not to choose Hydroxychloroquine by my optician many years ago as he said because I was an artist, one of the things it could do was alter the way I saw colours. I understand he said any retinal damage is more likely to occur in people taking HCQ for more than five years, but there will be many on here who are taking HCQ with no eye issues. I hope they can give you better answers. I hope the issues with your eyes are not long lasting. If the optician hasn’t advised you to contact your rheumy about your eyes and any possible connection with that med then I presume he/she must feel it isn’t a permanent issue or that HCQ has caused it.

[Hoffster1984 in reply to Neonkittie17]

Hi,

Thanks for the support. I should have mentioned that it was just a routine test! My vision is excellent they said!

Hopefully that continues!

Thanks again.

[Neonkittie17 in reply to Hoffster1984]

Very glad to hear that and hope it stays that way. Maybe you had strained your eyes recently or just tired.

[KittyJ]

I’m on both those and have had no eye problems.Retinopathy from hydroxy is very rare and as has already been said is more likely when on it 5years +, but still very rare. My opticians have never seen anyone with it. Yearly eye tests whilst on hydroxy will pick up on any problems but make sure the opticians know you’re on hydroxy to do the correct checks 😊 I’m glad yours isn’t retinopathy, that’d be bad luck.

[Titch55]

I have always had a yearly eye check at the opticians as I am on hydroxychloroquine. Last year I went to the eye clinic at the hospital for something else and they said as I should be having yearly checks at the hospital as I have been on it for over 5 years. They gave me this leaflet macularsociety.org/sites/de...

[Hoffster1984]

Thanks, that's really helpful!

[jaydeeh]

I had to attend the eye emergency hospital at the start of lockdown and was diagnosed with Central Vein Occlusion and I now have a steroid capsule which was injected into my eye. They have put this down to RA though I have Sjogrens and on Mtx and Hydroxy, the consultant says nothing to do with Hydroxy itself which can produce crystals in the eye and I'm clear of that. The steroid only makes the blurring go away not the actual blood clot so not sure if I shall be having injections long term at the moment.