Rheumatoid Arthritis Support Group
Rheumatoid arthritis is a chronic, inflammatory, multisystem, autoimmune disorder. It is a disabling and painful condition which can lead to substantial loss of mobility due to pain and joint destruction. The disease is also systemic in that it often also affects many extra-articular tissues throughout the body including the skin, blood vessels, heart, lungs, and...
I just began (finally) taking my generic plaquenil. was afraid b/c of side effects esp. to eyes.
Now first let me say, I was an optician and I was always told and taught, that "floaters" in the field of vision, are "normal".
Only recently , and ironically coinciding with me starting this med , did I read somewhere that it's only normal if the floaters you see are NOT black. Well, I have black floaters and always have ! BUT they've gotten way more lately, like everyday/constantly.
AND , let me clarify , this symptom began before I started the med.
and if any of you don't know, this med can cause retinal damage and the symptom is I guess basically, black floaters in the vision.
any advice ??
I've already whined and worried so much to my Doc before taking it that I don't know if I should even say anything.
He told me he was not going to send me for a pre treatment eye exam because the possible eye problem with this med is SO RARE...in his 30 or so years of treating people he's seen only one case.
my other docs have confirmed that is true about the rare thing.
Now first let me say, I was an optician and I was always told and taught, that "floaters" in the field of vision, are "normal".
Only recently , and ironically coinciding with me starting this med , did I read somewhere that it's only normal if the floaters you see are NOT black. Well, I have black floaters and always have ! BUT they've gotten way more lately, like everyday/constantly.
AND , let me clarify , this symptom began before I started the med.
and if any of you don't know, this med can cause retinal damage and the symptom is I guess basically, black floaters in the vision.
any advice ??
I've already whined and worried so much to my Doc before taking it that I don't know if I should even say anything.
He told me he was not going to send me for a pre treatment eye exam because the possible eye problem with this med is SO RARE...in his 30 or so years of treating people he's seen only one case.
my other docs have confirmed that is true about the rare thing.
Black floaters are the most common. It is unusual for floaters to be any other color. They often look like a fly or gnat or spider in the vision.
In MHO, everyone should have a pre-treatment eye exam before starting Plaquenil, and also be dilated annual after that. Although ocular changes are rare, they can happen, and are usually dose dependent but cumulative (ie, 30 years at 400 mg/day vs 6 mos at 400 mg/day). The potential change noted is usually blurred or distorted vision - it is the CENTRAL vision that is affected (NOT peripheral vision). The doctor does a visual field test of the CENTRAL 10 degrees that assess the integrity of the macular area.
There is also a new way to monitor Plaquenil ocular toxicity called an OCT test. This is MUCH more sensitive than vision changes, a dilated eye exam, or even a visual field test at detecting Plaquenil problems with the eye. Everyone should be getting an OCT at their annual eye exam now if they are on Plaquenil.
How do I know this? I am an optometrist.
V
My Rheumy wouldn't allow me to start Plaquenil until I checked with my Opthamologist . As it turned out, I had a severe reaction and had to stop Plaquenil.
Be aware, too, that Prednisone can cause Glaucoma and also can cause/accelerate Cataracts.
*** Lora, please feel free to correct this. It is from my personal experience and what my Eye Specialist has told me
whoever said the six month thing made me remember that.
and you can imagine my surprise and joy to hear from an optometrist here ! wow, way cool. thank you for your explanation.
No, I don't have the things you asked, just hundreds of black floaters anytime I'm awake now. (and that I'm having black little ants in my house now, it's so NOT good timing to see those in my vision ; ack ! )
you know, I was about to add this post and re read your questions. ok , no curtains, etc, but I thought, let me cover my left eye and you know, I think the floaters are just in the right one !
wth ?
Am wondering do I need to see an optometrist or an opthamologist for the Plaquenil check up thing?