eye problems with arimidex

paulatkc,,,,,Glad I saw this topic....Just had eye flashes happen on Wed this week, then saw a little spot so I went same day to Eye Doc...My friend just had to have her retina reattached with same symptoms so I didn't want to waste anytime...She waited too long before she went to have it checked...Anyway he said all was well with my retina and he could see a little floater, but no big deal and he would have me rechecked in two weeks....Well now for the last couple of days, it is like a blurriness that slides over my eye, extrememly annoying...I have been on Arimidex for a year and wonder if this is a SE also.....I have a sister-in-law that refuses to take arimidex for fear of se's, who knows which one of us will have made the right choice????

Yep, it happened to me too, before I was diagnosed with cancer. It started with a period of slightly strange vision, and then, after the vitreous detachment was complete, I had the brilliant flashes of light, caused by the detached matter bouncing against the retina. The doctor checked me out, said it was normal, especially for the near-sighted, and said the loose matter would eventually settle to the bottom of the eye, and the flashes would stop. Sure enough, that's what happened.



Sometimes the detachment isn't clean, and there can be problems. If you see something that looks like a swarm of bees (lots and lots of floaters), or if you see something like a curtain hanging down, you should get to the doctor immediately. Even if your only symptom is the flashes of light, you should see the doctor to make sure the retina is okay.



My left eye, which isn't as near-sighted as the right, hasn't had vitreous detachment, at least, not yet.

@ Paulatkc

A-O last 2 wks I have developed floaters and flickering lights in my right eye-corner which has put a curtain over my vision..So now I have floaters-flickering lights in both eyes which hinder my vision..I am 200% sure these floaters started due to being on Arimidex which I was on for abt 7 wks..Due to severe side effects my Onco took me off but I still have lingering SE from the meds..Yesterday i wnt and saw Optholmalogist and she keeps saying this is something age related...I flat out told her I appreciate her prof opinion but do not agree...I know my body with even little change..I am afraid of losing my eyesite if ever detechment of ratina on both eyes..I have a FUP in 6 wks..Lets see what happens..

I dont want dr.s to misdiagnosed or not taking patient seriously...I have 3 different reasons to write this..I have complained abt my right breast and the way it felt, looked and hurt for past 30+ yrs, 7-8 yrs ago I was having swallen lumph node (missed or not diagnosed thyroid issue) I have a small syst on my left node on my thyroid..and now this eye issues being part of SE of Arimidex...When will they pay attention that patient may have a genuine reason to believe something is wrong..

I am so frustrated and concerned abt my eyes...Hope god warches over me as I have really no faith in some of these specialists..No offense meant to the professionals.. 

While I was on Arimidex, my eyes were so dry that I was unable to tolerate wearing my gas permeable hard contact lenses and had to switch to soft lenses. Even with trying every type of lense he could find, my Eye Dr. couldn't correct my vision to what it had been, so I spent 3 years not seeing clearly. Glasses were no better. I had touble concentrating at work because I couldn't see well, plus wasn't safe to drive at night. I saw him 2-3 x a month for 3 years. He discussed my case with colleagues who were equally baffled. Finally at 3-1/2 years my Onc. took me off Arimidex due to the severity of my side effects. And within 6 months the severe dry eyes was over, I could see again, could wear gp hard lenses again, and felt like I had my life back. I'm back to seeing my Eye Dr 2x a year. It wasn't normal aging, it was the Arimidex. So don't believe your Onc that Arimidex doesn't affect your eyes because it did affect mine. Thank goodness it was reversable and that nightmare is over.

So did u stop taking arimidex? Are you still ok

Just googled and found this topic on eye problems.....on Monday this week, out of the blue, I began see flashes of light that look like strands of silver tinsel and numerous black webby spots moving around in my right eye. I am 1 year on arimidex. I'm finding lots of studies about eye problems on these AI drugs. It's not one drug in particular , it's the action of estrogen depletion that can cause these side effects. Everyone responds differently to these drugs but they are all depleteing estrogen and causing "accelerated female aging that resembles an exaggerated menopause."- according to one study I found today. The last paragraph really hit home for me-"As many as 40% of women completely abandon their use of AI's before the prescribed time because they cannot tolerate the side effects. Although ocular side effects may be less important or less compelling than effects such as arthralgia or hot flashes, they nevertheless may provide the straw that breaks the camel's back for cancer patients on these drugs."