blurry eyes from medications

[sparks4me]

Hi, I'm new here. I have mets in brain, lungs, liver and bones. I was diagnosed a year ago. I am 64. I'm on Ibrance and Arimidex. About 6 months ago my eyesight got cloudy and blurry. It is not painful, but annoying. I can drive safely, but I have to concentrate. I have seen my optometrist and after an eye exam he said "you are just getting older." (Really!) He gave me a new prescription for glasses which I kindly told him will not help my issue. I got them anyway just in case. They did not help. My oncologist said it could be the Ibrance, as studies show 4% of patients get blurry vision. Anyone else having vision problems?

[Hidden]

I saw a different opthalmologist from my regular one for the same reason. I have tried every single eye drop on the market (even a prescription one). Spent a small fortune, but nothing helped. She did a thorough exam and told me that my problems are almost certain chemo related and there's nothing available to relieve those symptoms. My eyes are ok. I found the only thing that gives me some relief is a very wet washcloth on my eyes throughout the day.

[sparks4me in reply to Hidden]

Thank you for your response. Yes, eyedrops do not help me either.

[104shopgirl]

Hi, I take Ibrance and faslodex. My eyesight gets a little blurry at times. I find it helps to use eye drops. The best brand I have found are Pataday. They are a little more viscous than the other brands. I use the ones you apply only once a day. They are a little more expensive, but I think worth it. Can also put less expensive drops in at a different time if needed. Say if you are sitting under a fan for intense. Hope this helps, Sally

[Boogitymom]

Yes, had random bouts of blurry vision for the last 6 months, saw optometrist in May, no cataracts. Now have cataracts in both eyes, one needing surgery as soon as my labs stabilize. My onc said she’d not heard of any relation to Ibrance and cataracts

[Pachira]

My eyes got blurry again after cataract surgery and a gonioptomy. It took a retina specialist to see that I had a macular edema. They inject a dye in your arm and then they can see behind your eye. She sent me to a uveitis clinic in Portland and they confirmed it and showed me the pictures. They have run 4 different tests to see what’s causing it but so far those are negative and she thinks it’s the denonusab Xgeva. They told me a regular ophthalmologist wouldn’t know. I’m now on drops to reduce the inflammation so hopefully it’ll work. Uveitis is the 3rd leading cause of blindness so I would ask for a referral to a retina specialist. Good luck Chris

[Beryl71]

Ah, when I first started on ibrance I thought so. I had an eye appt and the optician said there were very early cateracts so I thought that was it. But maybe it is the ibrance. It's not all the time but sometimes I feel like I'm trying to focus. I've just been bathing one eye with salt water as it was itchy and a bit uncomfortable. I thought, did I do right swimming in the sea last week. But perhaps I'll blame ibrance! X

[Trusig]

This is a very helpful post. I have been on Letrozole and Ibrance for 20 months and have been experiencing blurry vision the past 6 weeks. I have made an appt with my ophthalmologist and I will see my Oncologist in a week. All of your responses to SPIFFYCJ have better informed me for these appts. Thank you all......but YES the blurry eyes are annoying.

[NPmary]

Yes mostly in the morning.

[luckysmom13]

It would be better to see an ophthalmologist to look at this. (vs the optometrist). I hope you can find something to help!

[Phillipians4and6]

Hi. Yes absolutely. I’m on ibrance and I get the cloudy vision. I went to the eye doctor as well because I thought it was my vision. This great group help me understand what was going on. I have realized that drinking lots of water helps with it. It’s comes and goes. Hopes this helps.

[Mimigram]

May I suggest to read the book “How to Starve Cancer “ by Jane McLeland. You can google her. She is cancer free from stage 4 lung and ovarian cancer. I do what her books says and so far I am Ned.

[Hidden]

Hi there and welcome.I get watery eyes since being on I range. Mainly in the mornings. Sometimes It’s difficult seeing my laptop at work. I find pressing on the tear ducts with a warm cloth helps sometimes as I think the tear ducts get a bit clogged up.

Clare

[RitaMarie in reply to Hidden]

My eyes were tearful and my doc said it was because they were dry and suggested using Systane eye drops and it worked right away, (I was using Visine and that did nothing).

[Hidden in reply to RitaMarie]

Thank you I will try those drops.Clare

[misshope]

Hi, My eyes teared often due to 2 years of Ibrance and Arimadex. Now I am on Everolimus and Letrozole and my eyes have become very near sighted. Best to you

[rubyc1234]

I saw an ophthamologist for the same reason. He said my eyes were ok and he had no idea why they were blurry and runny. Well, I am sure it was the Ibrance/Letrozole combo. Eyedrops have been useless.

[Garnet131]

I'm coming up on 4 years Ibrance/Letrozole and have had some random blurriness. Seems like it's more noticeable lately, especially in the morning when I first wake up. I was told last year that I have early stage of cataracts and have been following two friends through their cataract surgeries to help me decide which doctor to see to find out if my cataracts have worsened. I will definitely mention the medications when I see ophthamologist and see what they have to say.

[sparks4me in reply to Garnet131]

4 years! That is awesome. I hope I get that long. We have ruled out cataract and any other reasons they could be blurry, so my eye doctor finally said it must be the meds. He is in agreement that many cancer meds wreck havoc on the eyes.

[Andersl]

It would be good if you knew it was a side effect of treatment or not.

Perhaps go to another optometrist and specifically ask if you have any signs of cataract or other cause for blurry vision.

If its definitely not physical then as someone jokingly said to me "choose what side effects you want" all drugs have them.

Incidentally I'm 63. I have metd liver, lungs , mediastinum and spine. All being held back by kadcyla (I'm HER2, ER +)

I also have some further Mets in my brain which will be treated with gamma therapy next week.

I hope this helps.

Beet wishes

Louise x

[sparks4me in reply to Andersl]

Thank you all for responses. All helpful. My ophthalmologist ruled out cataracts and any other causes for blurry eyes. I see a retina specialist for another eye issue and he says it is med related because there is no other explanation. Andrea, I too have Mets in brain along with liver, lung and bone. Had my radio surgery gamma knife thing a year ago and my tumors (about 18) are still not growing!🙏

[Andersl in reply to sparks4me]

Wow that's fantastic re your Gamma results! That's really helpful to know.

Thank you x

[sparks4me in reply to Andersl]

And I’m 63!