Arimidex and retinal tears

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kamico3
kamico3 Member Posts: 90
edited August 2016 in Hormonal Therapy - Before, During, and After

One day recently I suddenly started seeing all sorts of floaters and weird visual "effects" in one eye. I went to a retinal specialist the next morning and he found that I had a hole (with some bleeding) in that eye and an a symptomatic retinal tear in the other eye. This seemed very odd to me and, since I have been on arimidex for over three years now and have had plenty of side effects, I googled arimidex and retinal tears and found some studies that suggest that the effects of the arimidex on estrogen may cause the "jelly" part of the eye to become more liquid which can lead to retinal tears and then possibly retinal detachment. I have discussed this with my oncologist and he is tending to think that the arimidex is the culprit here. I am going to see a specialist next week and if she agrees, it looks like I will either have to try switching to aromas in, which may not make a difference since the two drugs are pretty similar, or I will have to go off the aromatase inhibitors entirely, which doesn't make me happy since I wanted to take it for the full five years. On the other hand, I don't want to go blind. Has anyone else encountered similar problems?

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  • Member_of_the_Club
    Member_of_the_Club Member Posts: 3,646
    edited June 2012

    I had a detached retina when I was 29 years old, long before I had BC, and have had vitreous detachment since then.  The thing about the jelly part of the eye, the vitreous, liquifying and detaching is a normal part of the aging process.  Sometimes it sticks to the retina as it detaches and causes tears and detachment of the retina.  If you are extremely nearsighted, as I am, it can happen at a younger age.  But it happens inevitably to pretty much everyone.  I don't know if arimidex does something to accelerate the process.  I haven't had any additional issues since I've been on arimidex for two years and I am certainly at high risk.  But maybe it was the culprit in your case.  If it were me I wouldn't go off an AI unless it was to go on tamoxifen.  Unless you have a reason like blood clots to avoid tamoxifen, it is as effective as an AI (studies showing tamoxifen to be less effective have not held up over time).

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  • think_positive
    think_positive Member Posts: 18
    edited June 2012

    Kamico3,

    Could you post a link to the studies?  I recently had the vitreous detachment in one eye (without retinal tearing) and suspect it was the arimidex I was taking.  I'm trying Femara now, and still have blurring, floaters, etc in that eye.  The eye doctor said it was a coincidence, not the AIs, but I'm not convinced there's no link.  At the time, I couldn't find anything online to suggest it was the fault of the Arimidex.

    Thanks!

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  • Member_of_the_Club
    Member_of_the_Club Member Posts: 3,646
    edited June 2012

    As I said, I think its unlikely to be the arimidex.  Its a normal part of the aging process.  Vitreous detachment is not harmful unless the retina tears.  I've had floaters since my retina detachment over 20 years ago.  They've gotten better but mostly I've just gotten used to them and so they don't bother me.  If you've been to the doc and ruled out a retinal detachment, theres nothing to worry about.

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  • lisa-e
    lisa-e Member Posts: 819
    edited June 2012

    I developed cataracts within a month of starting arimidex.  My sister, who also is my optometrist, said I didn't have cataracts at my last eye exam, which was 5 months prior.  No retinal problems, but I know arimidex can effect the eyes.  I had cataract surgery and decided to continue taking arimidex because that particular side effect would no longer be a problem.

    .

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  • Member_of_the_Club
    Member_of_the_Club Member Posts: 3,646
    edited June 2012

    Cataracts are different, there is more of a link. 

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  • lisa-e
    lisa-e Member Posts: 819
    edited June 2012

    I know, Member-of the-Club.   But my doctors were still reluctant to pin it on the arimidex.

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  • Denise1951
    Denise1951 Member Posts: 2
    edited August 2016

    I also had a tear in my retina after one year of armidex. I have wondered if it would of happenex if I wasn't on armidex. Armidex ages us

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