Blurred vision - steroid side-effect?

LH1025
LH1025 Member Posts: 14
edited June 2014 in Triple-Negative Breast Cancer
Blurred vision - steroid side-effect?
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  • LH1025
    LH1025 Member Posts: 14
    edited January 2008

    Good morning friends,

    Do you think a side effect of dexamethozone is blurred/fuzzy vision?

    I take this steroid 2- 4mg, 2x a day 2 days prior to my treatment and then 1 - 4mg lx day for three days after and I keep having blurred /fuzzy vision that's driving me crazy.  Some people think it's the chemo (carboplatin/taxatere) and others say its the steriod!

    I was just wondering- to see if I may reduce the dosage.

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  • twink
    twink Member Posts: 1,574
    edited January 2008

    I don't recall having that SE from either chemo or the steroid they gave me to take orally when before and after the Taxotere infusion.  I was also given a steroid to take orally before and after Carboplatin and I opted out completely.  Some of us can get by without the steroid but the doctor wasn't happy with me taking the risk. 

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  • wishiwere
    wishiwere Member Posts: 3,793
    edited January 2008

    I've had a really weird off and on SE after chemo and wasn't sure what it was from.  The first time I had chemo I would have a hard time focusing on reading anything.  My eyes wouldn't adjust I guess you could say.  I also had a problem the second time too, as well as the first when I would look up or turn my head to either side with this strange dizziness that seemed like I'd drank too much.  Looking up was the worse of it.  I would get dizzy sitting there, glancing up or sideways at the nurse infusing me.  I didn't have it too badly this time though, so not sure what it was.

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  • 2curvy
    2curvy Member Posts: 183
    edited January 2008

    I had that same regimin with that steroid and T/C.  My eyes would not focus.  My onc said this was probably the chemo.  Who knows?  Finished in 6/07, and my eyes are better.  I think the steriod is necessary, due to the high risk of other side effects.  What does your onc say?

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  • tos
    tos Member Posts: 376
    edited January 2008

    Me too.  Finished Taxotere 9/07, also had dexamethazone and had blurry vision, hard to focus sometimes.  I never asked what was causing it but now that I'm past treatment the problem has gone away.

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  • Meggy
    Meggy Member Posts: 530
    edited March 2008

    Dont want to scare anyone but blurred vision can be a sympton of a brain met.  We should all get a brain scan just in case.  Every last one of us.

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  • sftfemme65
    sftfemme65 Member Posts: 790
    edited March 2008

    Yea well so is a headache, dizziness and so on.  The fact that you started that comment with "don't want to scare anyone but...." makes me wonder.  We all are living with the fear of reoccurrence and personally I think that post was...disturbing.

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  • HeatherBLocklear
    HeatherBLocklear Member Posts: 1,370
    edited March 2008

    There are a TON of things that can cause blurry vision and that are more likely to be the cause than brain mets. Good grief, nothing like starting the day off with a ray of sunshine!

    Just FYI, some of the anit-nausea drugs (Compazine, f. ex.) can cause blurry vision. Since we're given anti-emetics together with the steroids before the chemo infusion, it makes sense that some women will experience blurred vision associated with their chemo treatments.

    Hugs to all,

    Annie

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  • ADK
    ADK Member Posts: 2,259
    edited March 2008

    Hi,

    I have Crohn's disease and I have taken prednisone (steroid) frequently to battle that.  Every time I took higher doses of it, my vision deteriorated.  It's not a common se, but it is a se.  Just wanted to make you feel a little better about it.  I hope you do. 

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  • carolynf
    carolynf Member Posts: 262
    edited March 2008

    Here's my 2 cents.  I also get blurred vision (esp. reading) on and off.  I have also had eye twitching which I am contributing this SE to the chemo or dexameth.  I did not have this SE on a/c.  I am on Taxol and take dexameth the night before treatment (every Monday).  It's not ALL the time.  But it is there. Talked to my onc. today and he also hasn't had anyone else bring this up and thinks its the chemo but should go away.  He is not worried about it.  7 more Taxols to go!!!  I hope this helps LH1025.

    Carolyn

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  • jerseymaria
    jerseymaria Member Posts: 770
    edited March 2008

    for me yes it is.  i've had periods of heavy steroids with lupus long before bc.  steroids raise blood sugar which in turn raises blood sugar levels.  i also always had this the day or two after an infusion because i had strong steroids with mine because of asthma.  when blood sugar returns to more normal levels my blurriness goes away.

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  • AlaskaDeb
    AlaskaDeb Member Posts: 2,601
    edited March 2008

    The Dexameth can cause swelling of the cornea in some people and cause problems with focusing on near vision.  It can also cause problems with lights bothering you night driving.  It happens to me every time I take it, one of the reasons I have had them up my benadryl and lower the dex this round of chemo.  Usually the symptoms only last 48 hours or so for me....

    Oh, and just for the record, I just had a clear brain MRI....  :)

    Deb C

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  • Anonymous
    Anonymous Member Posts: 1,376
    edited March 2008

    I also had this happen and thought it was the chemo.  I mentioned it to the nurse and she said it was the dexamethasone.  It always went away when I stopped taking the dexamethasone.

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