Hydroxychloroquine and eye tests

[panther50]

Hello lovely people in the NRAS forum. I’ve just posted this in LupusUk, but I know you are prescribed this too so just as relevant.

We weren’t always being told these were necessary & the guidance has been recently updated as it’s slightly more common than they previously thought. It’s important to get annual eye screening after long term (+5 years) use or on high dosage >5mg/1 kg body weight/day of hydroxychloroquine.

This leaflet might help you get the referral if it hasn’t been mentioned already:

rcophth.ac.uk/wp-content/up...

[charisma]

I’m sure folks here will appreciate that. I used to get complete eye testing at the hospital annually while on HCQ. My eye specialist expressed relief when I came off HCQ due to changing DMARD.

[Fra22-57]

Thanks very much for that.I do have annual eye tests and optician is excellent but we do need to be careful as our eyes are so precious

[panther50 in reply to Fra22-57]

Yes not all opticians can do the health checks required for HCQ Prescribers are responsible for this monitoring especially after +5years use. We should be offered a hospital check up with an ophthalmologist. I’ve heard that large Spec Savers can offer this check now. It involves retinal imaging which is different to their standard health check. However ideally you shouldn’t need to pay for it yourself. This leaflet should remind/inform your GP or consultant.

[Boxerlady in reply to panther50]

That's interesting.I chose my opticians specifically because they offered this test. Tbh, I prefer going to their small, carefully managed shop rather than a busy clinic in a big hospital.

[Caza]

Thanks for this. Up until covid I was having my eyes checked yearly in the eye clinic at the hospital that I’m under. Have just found out that the clinic is now closed during the week & now only open on Saturdays. I’ve now after many phone calls managed to get an appointment on the 22/5 18 months late. Although I did get them checked last week with Specsavers. I do worry even though all was well.

[Fruitandnutcase]

Thanks for that Panther. It is really important to have your eyes checked, ideally before you start hydroxychloroquine as a base line then every year after that. You can also download an Amsler chart and use that at home in between. You really can’t be careful enough as HCQ can cause irreversible blindness if you ignore any symptoms.I see my local optician and they give me a print off of the result which I take when I go to the hospital for my annual rheumatology appointment where they scan it onto my records.

[Pawprints1]

Hello I’ve only been recently diagnosed with SLE and my consultant has given me a leaflet toRead on hydroxychloroquine and the side effects and the eye issue is very daunting. She hasn’t said to me that I should have me eyes checked. Is this usually done at the hospital or at a normal opticians? Also I have an astigmatism already does this make it more of a risk? Thanks for everyone’s help