I have been taking plaquenil for a little over 10 years and getting eye exams regularly. Suddenly I'm experiencing eye problems (blilnd spots). I have stopped taking plaquenil, but now I'm being told by doctors that the damage is not necessarily reversible especially if you have taken it for a long time. I'm hoping to find people who have recovered from the eye damage.
Has anyone experienced plaquenil toxicity with damage to eyes?
- Posted:
- 3+ months ago by barb2032
- Topics:
- plaquenil, rheumatoid arthritis
Details:
Answers (2)
Vision changes are a side effect of Plaquenil. You may get more answers by directing this question to the forum.
My mother was diagnosed with Plaquenil Toxicity in 2007 she first noticed changes in 2006, although being followed by her eye doctor they failed to notice this as Plaquenil TX until it was to late. After the medicine was Discontinued she continued to have more and more visual changes for the worse and still is declining in her vision. She is now legally blind. There is noting that can be done to restore the vision, although we are told that if it had been detected before the full blown stage, Bulls Eye then it may have restored it's self in time. I do know that the is something called eccentric viewing. I technique that helps to teach the muscles of the eye to view differently that can help with the vision if it is minimal. But it is painful and there are very few OD that know how to do it. I would love to hear more about your case, as we are in the middle of a law suit with the eye Doctor that was suppose to be monitoring her for the condition and failed to diagnose. The good part is that they have discontinued the medication for you...but you may still have continued visual loss. Be sure to continue to be checked.
Hi,
I'm so sorry to hear about your mother's continuing problems. I've experienced some real frustration also as I don't think they diagnosed mine as quickly as they should have if there had been more extensive testing than the color blindness book. Since seeing a retina specialist and having the diagnosis made in May, I'm about the same. I THINK there is some of the bulls-eye syndrome you mention although the doctor has not said those words to me yet. Initially the first reaction was kind of like it's irreversible at this stage and then at my second appt., it was well it might reverse itself but it will take a very long time. I don't think I've gotten any worse although it seems to vary somewhat from day to day. My left eye is definitely worse than my right, so I keep hoping I will at least get no worse than I am now. Did your mother's eyesight continue to deteriorate rapidly? Have they given her any words of hope? It's so frustrating because it seems like it is an unnecessary condition. I have not gone back to my original doctor, but I still believe I will talk to him and tell him that I think if he has other patients they need to be paying a little more attention. This may be a rare condition, but it is very frightening if you are one of the rare ones that get it. I would be interested in any more information you may find. I'm going to look up the eccentric viewing technique, but since I live in a sparsely populated area, I probably would not be able to find anyone around here.