Does hydroxychloroquine cause eye problems?

Patients usually complain of difficulty in reading, decreased vision, missing central vision, glare, blurred vision, light flashes, and metamorphopsia. They can also be asymptomatic. Most patients have a bull's eye fundoscopic appearance.

Is eye damage from hydroxychloroquine reversible?

In general, hydroxychloroquine and chloroquine retinopathy are not reversible, and even following drug cessation, cellular damage appears to continue for a certain period of time. However, the earlier the retinopathy is recognized, the greater the chance of visual preservation.

How do I know if Plaquenil is affecting my eyes?

“If you feel like your central vision is getting blurred, if you lose the ability to see a digital clock, if you lose color vision—if reds look kind of washed out—or if you have trouble seeing at night: Those are early signs that you might be developing Plaquenil retinopathy,” says Katz.

Does Plaquenil cause vision problems?

Plaquenil binds to retinal pigment cells, causing adverse changes in vision that occur slowly over time. Objects may start to appear blurry or distorted. In the most serious cases of Plaquenil-induced retinal toxicity, the macula is completely destroyed.

How soon can hydroxychloroquine affect the eyes?

The most important side effect of hydroxychloroquine is on the eye. Blurred vision may occur in the first few weeks after starting hydroxychloroquine. This usually returns to normal even when you continue taking the tablets. Talk to your doctor if you are worried.

Update on the eye health risks of hydroxychloroquine

What is the major toxic effect of hydroxychloroquine?

Quiz Ref IDAlthough hydroxychloroquine toxic effects can be asymptomatic in early stages, patients most commonly report difficulty with night vision, glare, or a paracentral scotoma as the condition progresses.

How common is hydroxychloroquine retinopathy?

The overall prevalence of hydroxychloroquine retinopathy was 7.5% but varied with daily consumption (odds ratio, 5.67; 95% CI, 4.14-7.79 for >5.0 mg/kg) and with duration of use (odds ratio, 3.22; 95% CI, 2.20-4.70 for >10 years).

Does hydroxychloroquine help dry eyes?

Hydroxychloroquine (HCQ) has been widely used in rheumatic diseases. Some pSS patients are also receiving HCQ treatment. Studies have shown HCQ can significantly alleviate the symptoms of dry mouth, dry eyes, and joint pain in pSS patients and can also reduce circulating inflammatory factors.

How often do you need eye exams on Plaquenil?

Patients starting treatment with Plaquenil should have a baseline eye examination within the first year of taking this medication and then regular screenings thereafter; every six months or yearly as advised by your eye doctor.

Can hydroxychloroquine cause retinal detachment?

End stage hydroxychloroquine toxicity leads to widespread RPE and retinal atrophy with a loss of central vision, peripheral vision, and night vision.

Can you stop hydroxychloroquine suddenly?

Do not stop taking it without talking with your doctor, especially if you are taking it for malaria. It is important to continue taking this for the length of time prescribed. Stopping prevention or treatment too soon may lead to infection or a return of the infection.

How long does it take hydroxychloroquine to leave your system?

A drug's half-life is the amount of time it takes for your body to get rid of half of a drug's dose. The half-life of Plaquenil is about 40 to 50 days. In other words, it takes about 40 to 50 days for your body to get rid of half of a dose of Plaquenil.

Does Plaquenil affect your teeth?

Can Plaquenil have effects on my teeth? No, side effects related to teeth weren't reported in Plaquenil's clinical studies. Two conditions Plaquenil is prescribed to treat, RA and lupus, can cause problems related to teeth and oral health.

Is Plaquenil a high risk medication?

Using Plaquenil for a long period of time may harm the retina, causing serious vision loss. People with retinal damage from Plaquenil are not aware at first that they are losing vision.

Can Plaquenil cause weight gain?

Some people taking Plaquenil may experience weight gain from fluid retention, but weight gain is generally not a common side effect of Plaquenil. Severe weight changes requiring medical attention would include evidence of rapid weight loss or gain, which is the loss or gain of 10 or more pounds in one month.

What causes Sjogren's flare ups?

Autoimmune diseases such as Sjogren's syndrome are highly likely to be triggered by environmental factors such as pollution, infections, certain medications, diet, and allergy-causing agents. Make a note of potential environmental triggers, and try to steer clear of them as much as possible.

What is the best eye drops for Sjogren's syndrome?

Prescription eyedrops such as cyclosporine (Restasis) or lifitegrast (Xiidra) may be recommended by your eye doctor if you have moderate to severe dry eyes. Increase production of saliva. Drugs such as pilocarpine (Salagen) and cevimeline (Evoxac) can increase the production of saliva, and sometimes tears.

What does a sjogrens flare feel like?

Joint pain is one of the most common symptoms of Sjögren's syndrome. Multiple joints are painful, usually episodically with periods of joint pain, known as “flares”, followed by periods of little or no joint pain. Tenderness and swelling of the joints, when present, are indicative of inflammatory arthritis.

Why does hydroxychloroquine cause retinopathy?

Chloroquine and hydroxychloroquine can cause toxic retinopathy due to their binding of melanin in the retinal pigmented epithelium (RPE) as well as direct toxicity to retinal ganglion cells. Early findings include mottling of the RPE and blunted foveal reflex.

How rare is retinal toxicity?

The incidence of toxic retinopathy varies from 0%-4%. A prospective study of Mavrikakis I et al, published in Ophthalmology, in 2003, on 526 patients over 15 years old found the incidence to be 0.38% [1].

What are the reactions to hydroxychloroquine?

Does hydroxychloroquine cause macular degeneration?

The diagnosis of retinal macular degeneration caused by hydroxychloroquine was made after excluding other interfering diseases based on the patient's long-term use of hydroxychloroquine and the results of the eye examination.

What is eye toxicity?

Ocular toxicity includes inflammation and atrophy of the optic nerve and inner retina, loss of white matter, and gliosis of the occipital and parietal lobes causing various degrees of blindness.

Is hydroxychloroquine good for arthritis?

Hydroxychloroquine (Plaquenil) is considered a disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drug (DMARD). It can decrease the pain and swelling of arthritis. It may prevent joint damage and reduce the risk of long-term disability. Hydroxychloroquine is in a class of medications that was first used to prevent and treat malaria.

What is the downside of taking hydroxychloroquine?

Nausea, vomiting, loss of appetite, diarrhea, dizziness, or headache may occur. If any of these effects last or get worse, tell your doctor or pharmacist promptly. Remember that this medication has been prescribed because your doctor has judged that the benefit to you is greater than the risk of side effects.