Has anyone on Anastrozole had eye/sight problems?

Posted by frantik223 @frantik223, Aug 2, 2023

I’ve been on Anastrozole since march, I’ve had side effects that have been discussed here but I haven’t seen anyone mention eye or seeing troubles. I am experiencing eye twitching which I have heard about but in my peripheral vision I have wavy lines and now when I blink I see flashes of light. Also my floaters seem to have increased.

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@dgayle

I am 73 y and have been on Anastrazole since the end of January. I began to notice a problem with my vision a few weeks ago. It was difficult to focus ( in the right eye more than left), and blurry vision. I used glasses for reading before, but even using them is not correcting the problem. I had an eye exam 2 years ago , but now (in May ) I am told that I have cataracts. I am also finding that my hair is thinning A LOT. It is particularly noticeable as I had thick hair before where the hair stylist would have to thin it when cutting, but not now!
I can’t run my fingers through my hair without lots of hair strands coming out in my fingers.
I attribute this to my taking the Anastrazole. What can be done about these issues.

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I have no answers for you, but I have you in my thoughts

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@dgayle

I am 73 y and have been on Anastrazole since the end of January. I began to notice a problem with my vision a few weeks ago. It was difficult to focus ( in the right eye more than left), and blurry vision. I used glasses for reading before, but even using them is not correcting the problem. I had an eye exam 2 years ago , but now (in May ) I am told that I have cataracts. I am also finding that my hair is thinning A LOT. It is particularly noticeable as I had thick hair before where the hair stylist would have to thin it when cutting, but not now!
I can’t run my fingers through my hair without lots of hair strands coming out in my fingers.
I attribute this to my taking the Anastrazole. What can be done about these issues.

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Cataracts are very common in older people. I had mine removed about a year ago, and glaucoma stents inserted at the same time. I have no hair loss. Been on anastrozole for two years. Stress is a very common cause of hair loss. A young acquaintance recently had severe hair loss because of stress about his visa renewals. Now he's fine. So it's impossible to know whether anastrozole is the cause of your problems.

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I don't take anastrozole but when I found my eyes hurting 50 years ago, I mentioned it to my 10 year old daughter. She responded, "That's what you said when you were pregnant with Suzi." I was astonished to learn from her that I had a surprise pregnancy that began 5 months after the birth of my middle daughter! I think it was hormonal.

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Did you continue taking your anastrozole?? Or did you stop because of these issues. I have been on for 3 years and have recently been experiencing those wavy lines , more floaters and not as clear vision

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@frantik223

I have had similar symptoms- started with anastrozole and switched to letrozole after 6 months with a month off between medications. I had eye twitching, waves lines (like my eye lashes were in the way of my vision), flashes of light when I blinked and increased floaters. Went straight to the eye doctor and he didn’t see anything alarming- now I find my eyes are dry (like if you wear soft contacts and they are totally dried out in your eye) AND I don’t need my contact anymore, my vision in my right eye is better without the contact. I need to go see the eye dr again but in the interim I had breast reconstruction, dealing with shoulder problems so now it’s time to go back to the eye doctor.
Hope this helps

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So these visual changes resolved after going off of anastrozole???
I have been on for 3 years and recently developed those wavy lines in left eye. I am finding eye doctors and even my oncologist don't know much about eye issues with these meds

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@jc1926

I have been on Anastrozole for about a year and a half. I noticed that I was needing my reading glasses suddenly for distance. I went to the eye doctor and was prescribed bifocal contacts. I told the doctor about my meds and he didn’t seem to think they were the cause, but honestly he wasn’t sure.

I don’t know if this helps, but it did seem like shortly after starting Anastrozole, my vision changed.

This is off subject, but I also have noticed that I bruise more easily on Anastrozole.

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I too am having visual changes after being on anastrozole for 3 years
Ophthalmologist and oncologist don't seem to be well educated in visual problems with this medication

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You need to get to an Eye Center at a major hospital. I simply Googled, " Wavey lines in vision from Anastrozole. " It says, while wavey lines in vision ( metamorphosia), are a known side effect of some medications, including aromatherapy inhibitors, it is crucial to seek immediate medical attention if you experience it. They mention retinal hemorrhage and vitreoretinal traction, as possibilities. Those, ofcourse, are worse case scenarios, but you can't let doctors ignore your new symptoms. I have been refered to a university medical center where there is a comprehensive eye clinic twice in my life by my Opthamologist. I hope this helps with your concerns.

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@colely

You need to get to an Eye Center at a major hospital. I simply Googled, " Wavey lines in vision from Anastrozole. " It says, while wavey lines in vision ( metamorphosia), are a known side effect of some medications, including aromatherapy inhibitors, it is crucial to seek immediate medical attention if you experience it. They mention retinal hemorrhage and vitreoretinal traction, as possibilities. Those, ofcourse, are worse case scenarios, but you can't let doctors ignore your new symptoms. I have been refered to a university medical center where there is a comprehensive eye clinic twice in my life by my Opthamologist. I hope this helps with your concerns.

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Aromatase inhibitors.

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@colely

Aromatase inhibitors.

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Yes there is research out there relating to this . I have been on Anastrozole for a year and notice occasional problems with reading vision particularly early in the day. On a recent visit to optician he noted a small post retinal bleed , this may be incidental/ age related but having read some of the work on this I’ll be aware in case there are any further problems.

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According to my eye doc, anastrozole (and maybe other AIs) can cause detached vitreous and (maybe) detached retina. My vitreous detached decades ago. Had a detached retina several months before breast cancer diagnosis. It was fixed by full eye surgery--in other words, it should be tightly attached now! So doc says he's not particularly worried about me having eye issues with anastrozole. But... he warned me to come in immediately if I noticed any change in my vision.
My suggestion would be to see a retinal specialist (like my eye doc). Google "vitreous retina macula doctor consultant" to find one in your area.

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