Does anyone have side effects, like eye damage, from Ethambutol?

@nancysh Hello Nancy,
Yes, I agree, as a person who depends on her vision for everything, I was very concerned about ethambutol. When I had my pre-medication eye appointment with my ophthalmologist, I expressed my concern. She told me she monitors people taking ethambutol VERY closely, with a thorough baseline exam, then at 3 months, and every 6 months after that. In over 30 years, she said she had only 2 patients with a problem, even though it is used a lot in our community because we have a large immigrant population prone to TB (the other main use for the med.) She told me to stop the medication and call immediately if I had changes in vision or eye pain, and she would see me right away - I trusted her, and that set my mind at ease. I took ethambutol for over 18 month, 6 months of that was daily, and did not have an issue.
Remember, all drugs, even "safe" over-the-counter meds like antacids, can have side effects. It is a matter of deciding whether the benefit of treatment outweighs the risk.
Have you scheduled an eye exam?

Thank you so much for this info, Sue. I just started the three drugs and had had an eye exam July 3. My doc thought that was ok. I depend on having good color vision for my restoration job so it is very important to me.

Hi I am Jane and I had to get off Ethambutal do to eye problems. I couldn't pass the vision view test 3 times. My eye doctor took me off it immediately. After 3 months off the medication I could pass it with no problems. Hope this helps. I continued with Rifampin and Azithromycin.

Thank you, Jane. I will get checked frequently.