Plaquenil eye problems

Hi @wesbig. Great question, but I'm sorry to hear about the blurry vision. I found a list of potential side effects for Paquenil and blurry vision is listed as a less common side effect (http://bit.ly/2a8wUh0). I would encourage you to at least consult with your doctor or a pharmacist to let them know what's going on. I'm also including information from Mayo Clinic: http://mayocl.in/29WS3JT.

I was just talking to my rheumatologist today. She has prescribed plaquenil. She said very rare side effect is some sort of deposits on the eye. I would contact your dr to be on safe side. My dr said to have eye exam with dilation a few months after starting. Just tell eye dr you take plaquenil and she said they would know exactly what to look for. Good luck. Hope it's nothing. <br><br>Finding Cures. Saving Children<br>www.stjude.org

Thanks for the replys

I was told I have the beginnings of macular degeneration. My rheumatologist wants to put me on Plaquenil. Should I be concerned about my eyes on that drug?

Hello @jip499 and welcome to Connect. You ask a good question. I found some information on Plaquenil on the WebMD website. Here is the link to that information,
https://www.webmd.com/drugs/2/drug-6986/plaquenil-oral/details.
As you can see, this medication is being used for many different health issues and is often prescribed for autoimmune disorders such as lupus or rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Since your rheumatologist is prescribing this, perhaps you have RA or some other autoimmune disorder. Is that correct?

I can understand your concern about your vision, given your diagnosis of macular degeneration. Have you talked with your ophthalmologist about using Plaquenil? If not, I would suggest that you give his office a call and ask about any effects this med might have on your vision. As you probably know, everyone reacts differently to medications and one person's reaction might be different than yours.

As your rheumatologist is recommending this med, what symptoms are you trying to control with the Plaquenil?

I have Sjögren’s Syndrome; I am achy and have significant fatigue. I have not yet started Plaquenil. I also have early macular degeneration.

Hello @jip499,

Thanks for the added information about Sjogren's Syndrome. On Connect we have a discussion group titled, "Sjogren’s Syndrome – Introduce yourself and meet others." Here is the link to that discussion,
https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/sjogrens/. If you click on the link you will see others who also mention taking Plaquenil.

I would encourage you to talk with both your ophthalmologist and rheumatologist about your concerns and see what they say. Remember, we do not all react to meds in the same way.

Will you talk to your ophthalmologist?

When I was on plaquenil, I had to have a full retinal examination which was more complicated than a simple dilation. It was about a 90 minute exam with all the photos being taken and dilations. Everything was ok but because the plaquenil did not seem to make a difference that was noticeable in my condition, I ceased taking it. I think it is wise to contact your prescribing doctor for sure and perhaps get a baseline eye exam so you know where you are now compared to when you get your needed plaquenil eye check up. Wishing you well.

I have been on Plaquenil for about 8 years through my rheumatologist at Johns Hopkins. I see an ophthalmologist every six months for full exam, on one of the visits I get visual field tests and photos of my retinas . One of the side effects is retina changes . Make sure you see an ophthalmologist ( a medical doctor) not an optometrist.

I was on Plaquenil and should never have been. I have a HX of retina detachments and unequal vision in each eye. Plaquenil caused decreased vision and blurred vision also.