Blurry eyes after starting Tamoxifen?

My ophthalmologist keeps a close watch on my eyes. I had an increase in floaters and flashes after about 3 months of being on Tamoxifen. Really difficult to tell if it caused them or not. In my case the concern would be retinal detachment, I already had a very mild issue with it. An increase in cataracts is another issue - but with my family history I’m already planning that cataract surgery is in my future anyway. It’s not a matter of if, just when.

I did not have blurred vision. But that is a specific issue my ophthalmologist seems concerned with. After the initial problem with floaters and flashers my vision has settled down and I’m back to the level prior to starting tamoxifen. I did start on 20 mg and switched to 5 mg after six months and am now self-prescribed 2.5-3.5 mg due to memory, brain fog. It’s very difficult to set an exact cut on the 10 mg pill when cutting in half or thirds.

@triciaot
Thank you for your response.
Did the Ophthalmologist say why blurred vision was a specific concern?

No, I’m sorry, he didn’t and I didn’t ask for further info since it wasn’t a concern for me at the time. Now I’m curious, too. This will go on my a list of questions to ask next time.

I go to my appointment today. I will let you know what I find out.

Hi
Reading your post. Your pharmacy should cut your medication for you, mine does.

I started having blurry vision after we moved to Scottsdale and found out that my eyes were "too dry." The desert and chemo both are drying. Lubricating eyedrops solved that problem. My eye doctor also told me to take alginate oil -- skipping the middle fish. But the symptoms for these 5-10 year meds like estrogen suppressors seem endless and multifarious. I'm switching from Letrozole to something else because my neuropathy from chemo got markedly worse after a couple of days on that med.

My experience is with ribociclib (Kisqali). I contracted a bacterial infection in one eye leaving ulcers on my cornea. Almost exactly 6 months later, I had the same infection in the other eye leaving me legally blind with keratoconus. I did not fit any profile that would cause this other than the med so my ophthalmologist researched and came back with the comment that these drugs are "toxic to the eyes", his words. I wish my onco had been aware of the danger and warned me after the first infection but he said the drug manufacturer had no record of this situation.

I had my appointment and the eye doc said it seems like the Tamoxifen is making my eyes super dry and that is causing the blurry vision and to use eye moisturizing drops 3 times per day.
I asked and she said Tamoxifen can cause damage to the back of a persons eyes, so that is what they look for. She didn’t really elaborate what the damage is though.
She did see a spot on the back of my left eye called a Cotton Wool Spot and she is stumped as to why I have it because typically it is seen with people who have high blood pressure or diabetes and I don’t have either of those. She is having me come back in 3 months to check it but said I can continue the Tamoxifen.

Ugh, I am sorry to hear this happened to you!
With all of the negative side effects, It is definitely hard to decide if these drugs are worth taking!

I share my story not to discourage use of the drugs but as a precaution. Anytime my sisters in this journey have eye sensitivity, promptly see your optometrist.