Weird eye appointment today.

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CAMommy
CAMommy Member Posts: 437
edited October 2015 in Hormonal Therapy - Before, During, and After

I went to the eye dr for my annual exam and she told me I have cloudy corneas in both eyes, just slight. I didn't have that last year or any other year.

I forgot to tell her I was on tamoxifen, since I just started (and am stopping because of the side effects). Is this a side effect of tamoxifen? I wasn't on it long but it's odd that it showed up now.

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  • marijen
    marijen Member Posts: 3,731
    edited March 2017

    If you go to drugs.com you can find all the side of effects of any drug on the market. You can even access the Professional tab for what the doctors are supposed to read and know.

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  • Jennie93
    Jennie93 Member Posts: 1,018
    edited October 2015

    Yes, tamoxifen is known to cause eye problems. Most say it goes back to normal when you quit taking it, might take several months though.



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  • leggo
    leggo Member Posts: 3,293
    edited October 2015

    Yes, I know several women, including myself, who's eyesight has been affected by Tamoxifen.

    http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/7929848


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  • Manu14
    Manu14 Member Posts: 153
    edited October 2015

    I developed cararacts and a retinal problem while on tamoxifen for 15 months. I have eye exams annually and neither of these problems was detected before tamoxifen. It is impossible to prove one way or another if tamoxifen was the culprit, but zi feel it was

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  • Anonymous
    Anonymous Member Posts: 1,376
    edited October 2015

    I have "very early cataracts"; my opthalmologist said tamoxifen wasn't to blame, (said "the risk is so low, I wouldn't even consider it"); said everyone over 50 has the very early beginnings of cataracts, said I don't need to even worry about them till I'm 75.

    Anne

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  • MelissaDallas
    MelissaDallas Member Posts: 7,268
    edited October 2015

    Same here Anne. At fifty I was told I had the very early beginnings of cataracts but it would be many years before they were anything to worry about

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  • kcat2013
    kcat2013 Member Posts: 391
    edited October 2015

    My opthamologist told me that Tamoxifen can cause several problems within the eyes. He does a couple of extra tests on my eyes once a year because of this. http://www.aao.org/assets/6ae9b4fb-1626-47aa-bf64-...

    If I were you, I'd make sure and mention that you are on Tamoxifen at your next exam.

    Kendra

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  • coraleliz
    coraleliz Member Posts: 1,523
    edited October 2015

    I'm told that my cataracts are "maturing". Going to continue on Tamoxifen. Another year to get to 5! No way will I continue to 10. I figure I would have developed cataracts anyway. Both parents had cataracts surgery in their early 70's.

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  • peggy_j
    peggy_j Member Posts: 1,700
    edited October 2015

    Sorry this is happening. My eye doc wants to know everything related to my health, even if I think they aren't relevant. If it was me, I'd follow up ( call/fax/email or send a note) so they have that info.

    FWIW, I know two people who had cataract surgery in their late 40s (neither w/ BC or on tamox. One was a man.) So I guess it happens.

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  • MsVeryDenseBreasts
    MsVeryDenseBreasts Member Posts: 100
    edited October 2015

    FYI, people who are severely near sighted are more likely to develop cataracts at a younger age than other populations. They can develop them as much as 20 years younger than the general population average. That said, the MO I consulted with conceded that BOTH the AI and SERM drugs are as he put it "hard on the eyes".

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  • radgal
    radgal Member Posts: 100
    edited October 2015

    1996 Mar;14(3):1018-26.

    Tamoxifen-associated eye disease. A review.

    Nayfield SG1, Gorin MB.

    Abstract

    PURPOSE:

    The oral antiestrogen tamoxifen has demonstrated efficacy in the treatment of metastatic breast cancer and as adjuvant therapy in early-stage disease. Clinical trials of tamoxifen in chemoprevention of breast cancer among high-risk women have focused attention on potential adverse effects of long-term tamoxifen use, including the possibility of ocular toxicity. This review evaluates the published case reports, clinical series, and clinical trial data on ocular toxicities attributed to tamoxifen. Clinical issues of surveillance, differential diagnosis, and management of tamoxifen-related eye disease are discussed.

    DESIGN:

    National Library of Medicine online bibliographic services were used to identify case reports and clinical studies of ocular adverse effects that occurred in patients receiving tamoxifen published through the fall of 1994. The medical literature relevant to issues raised by the reports and studies was similarly identified and reviewed.

    RESULTS:

    Case reports and case series identify crystalline retinal deposits, macular edema, and corneal changes as potential tamoxifen ocular toxicities. Extensive retinal lesions and macular edema with visual impairment have been reported in a few patients receiving high-dose tamoxifen. Less extensive retinal changes may occur in patients receiving low doses for long periods, and isolated retinal crystals may be observed in patients without visual symptoms.

    CONCLUSION:

    Ocular toxicity is uncommon in the current clinical setting of long-term, low-dose tamoxifen use. Physicians should be aware of the potential for ocular toxicity among patients receiving the drug and should assure appropriate surveillance and prompt evaluation of visual complaints.

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