Forum Discussion
Tamoxifen to blame for my eye troubles?
I've have been on Tamoxifen for about 8 months and am 54. In the last couple of weeks my left eye has suddenly gone like a mosaic of snow flakes in vision (comes and goes) and my optometrist found a blood clot blocking one of the veins behind my eye. It looks on her screen like an embryo of an egg, you know with the red spot in middle of a vein?
She flew in to a panic, wrote a scribbled referral to my GP who on Friday afternoon was off at golf so I saw another GP in the same building who didn't really have a clue what to do so she rang the emergency Dr at the general hospital who said they don't have an eye specialist there and we would have to travel from Burrum Heads to Brisbane to get it looked at. Brisbane was supposed to ring us with an appointment but to date they never did. It greatly upset both me and my husband as it sounded like I had a clot and was going to die or something which I am not. I got on to a private specialist in Hervey Bay who said the earliest appointment is end of January. Still with me?
Anyway, I have found what it is. Central retinal vein occlusion or CRVO. There doesn't seem to be any curing treatment, just management. I also looked up side effects of Tamoxifen which do list eye troubles in their side effects. Since I have low not high blood pressure and no heart troubles and my cholesterol levels although elevated slightly were not in the too high category I am thinking the eye trouble is from Tamoxifen?
I will get on to my oncology specialist tomorrow for an appointment and see if we can switch from Tamoxifen to something else which hopefully will not effect my eye.
Has anyone else had eye troubles like mine on Tamoxifen?
She flew in to a panic, wrote a scribbled referral to my GP who on Friday afternoon was off at golf so I saw another GP in the same building who didn't really have a clue what to do so she rang the emergency Dr at the general hospital who said they don't have an eye specialist there and we would have to travel from Burrum Heads to Brisbane to get it looked at. Brisbane was supposed to ring us with an appointment but to date they never did. It greatly upset both me and my husband as it sounded like I had a clot and was going to die or something which I am not. I got on to a private specialist in Hervey Bay who said the earliest appointment is end of January. Still with me?
Anyway, I have found what it is. Central retinal vein occlusion or CRVO. There doesn't seem to be any curing treatment, just management. I also looked up side effects of Tamoxifen which do list eye troubles in their side effects. Since I have low not high blood pressure and no heart troubles and my cholesterol levels although elevated slightly were not in the too high category I am thinking the eye trouble is from Tamoxifen?
I will get on to my oncology specialist tomorrow for an appointment and see if we can switch from Tamoxifen to something else which hopefully will not effect my eye.
Has anyone else had eye troubles like mine on Tamoxifen?
22 Replies
- Hi All, I haven't posted in a while I have tried to forget I am a cancer patient! But reality today another doctor appointment, bloody sick of them! The doc wants to change me from tamoxifen to arimidex only just got used to it. I have been on Tamoxifen for a year now and I have noticed my eyes are weaker or it could be just one of the joys of chemo? I can't see a thing with out my glasses and because seeing is just harder I have poor concentration at work but luckily not your problem Brenda, sounds scary I hope you get it resolved.
- Hi Brenda - I am a little concerned for you and interested to know the report on what the specialist says about Tamoxifen.
Tamoxifen don't you just love the hidden extras (not)! I do hope it is a simple fix!
Take care from Christine - Seeing one of the private eye specialists in Hervey Bay Wednesday morning and they said for initial consult he will bulk bill so its free.
Not sure if everyone is aware, a normal optometrist can do the tests and bill it to Medicare. If anything noteworthy is found, you don't have to see the GP Dr like my optometrist panicked me in to; they can forward a referral direct to any private eye specialist you choose and the referral is free too. - Me too with the eyes. I'm waiting a bit before retesting in case it is further cell repair to happen.
- I have only noticed that chemo has definately effected my eyes....I wear glasses all the time anyways, but my vision now takes time to 'warm up' from first thing in the morning....I have always had dry eye (hence no contact lenses) I'm hoping you get into see someone soon and get some answers Brenda. Specialists always take a while to get an appointment with :/ frustrating I know......wishing you all the best!
- Thanks Primek for an interesting article, I'm on Femara and it could be the reason for some irritating floaters!
- Great news on the optometrist doing the letter...that should speed things along. Bad news on the cost. Hope things are sorted soon.
- An update- My oncologist says I will just have to increase exercise, stick to a better diet (very guilty) and stick with the Tamoxifen as I haven't been on it long enough to be able to switch to something else yet. The alternatives have the same blood clotting warnings on them anyway. I did manage to track down an eye specialist and got the Specsavers optometrist to fax over the referral and the specialist will call me when the Dr has had a look at the test results. Will need to pay for it myself as I don't have any private insurance but we don't have any public eye specialist in the Fraser coast and Brisbane doesn't want to know.
- A long wait for answers. I imagine laser will be the treatment. Hope all goes well. Surprised the opthalmologist didn't do the referral directly to the specialist as they can assist with how soon you should be seen...knowing the right language etc. Hope all goes well.
This article was interesting. Hope it works.
http://www.aao.org/assets/6ae9b4fb-1626-47aa-bf64-f1e6fb7f0b0d/635570315144270000/march-2013-clinical-update-comprehensive-pdf - Hi Brenda,
when I started with Tamoxifen 7 months ago my GP told me to have my eyes regularly checked as Tamoxifen can effect your eyes. Also the optometrist I went to knew about the side effects Tamoxifen can have to your eyes.
