eye problems with arimidex
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Dear Dabulls23,
I just started taking Femara in October 2010, and just got back from my eye doctor with a vitreous humor problem--bright flashing lights in a crescent shape, and then a huge floater within my field of vision!!!!! I have always had a fear of going blind, and now, in addition to having joint aches, depression, hot flashes, night sweats and a general feeling of un-wellbeing, I find there's a link between these estrogen components we are being given to combat cancer and our eyes! Honestly!
Dabulls, I sense that you are going to listen to your body, trust God, and your immune system--am I right? I would love to hear back from you--
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paulatkc,,,,,Glad I saw this topic....Just had eye flashes happen on Wed this week, then saw a little spot so I went same day to Eye Doc...My friend just had to have her retina reattached with same symptoms so I didn't want to waste anytime...She waited too long before she went to have it checked...Anyway he said all was well with my retina and he could see a little floater, but no big deal and he would have me rechecked in two weeks....Well now for the last couple of days, it is like a blurriness that slides over my eye, extrememly annoying...I have been on Arimidex for a year and wonder if this is a SE also.....I have a sister-in-law that refuses to take arimidex for fear of se's, who knows which one of us will have made the right choice????0
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Again, vitreous detachment is a normal part of the aging process. It is not unusual for middle-aged women (which most of us are, or older), the same population that has a history of breast cancer, to also have PVDs. Does the lack of estrogen increase the timing? I don't know. I had my retinal detachment when I was 29 years old, long before bc, when I was chock full of estrogen. All of these symptoms -- flashers, floaters -- need to be checked out but a PVD is not anything to worry about (as long as the retina hasn't detached).
Its easy to blame everything on the meds, but it doesn't always fit. I remember getting blurry vision after starting tamoxifen and was convinced there was a connection. Turns out I needed to start wearing reading glasses. And since I was in my 40s, there really wasn't anything unusual about that.
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Yep, it happened to me too, before I was diagnosed with cancer. It started with a period of slightly strange vision, and then, after the vitreous detachment was complete, I had the brilliant flashes of light, caused by the detached matter bouncing against the retina. The doctor checked me out, said it was normal, especially for the near-sighted, and said the loose matter would eventually settle to the bottom of the eye, and the flashes would stop. Sure enough, that's what happened.
Sometimes the detachment isn't clean, and there can be problems. If you see something that looks like a swarm of bees (lots and lots of floaters), or if you see something like a curtain hanging down, you should get to the doctor immediately. Even if your only symptom is the flashes of light, you should see the doctor to make sure the retina is okay.
My left eye, which isn't as near-sighted as the right, hasn't had vitreous detachment, at least, not yet.0 -
While some of the eye problems may be the result of aging, on the other hand, there is no doubt that some of the chemo drugs and tamoxifen can hasten cateracts. My onc had to change my tx because I was developing cataracts from the chemo and the eye doctor told me about tamox (which if you read the side effects does list cataracts). Perhaps I would have started to develop them anyway but there is no doubt that the start was hastened by my chemo.
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@ Paulatkc
A-O last 2 wks I have developed floaters and flickering lights in my right eye-corner which has put a curtain over my vision..So now I have floaters-flickering lights in both eyes which hinder my vision..I am 200% sure these floaters started due to being on Arimidex which I was on for abt 7 wks..Due to severe side effects my Onco took me off but I still have lingering SE from the meds..Yesterday i wnt and saw Optholmalogist and she keeps saying this is something age related...I flat out told her I appreciate her prof opinion but do not agree...I know my body with even little change..I am afraid of losing my eyesite if ever detechment of ratina on both eyes..I have a FUP in 6 wks..Lets see what happens..
I dont want dr.s to misdiagnosed or not taking patient seriously...I have 3 different reasons to write this..I have complained abt my right breast and the way it felt, looked and hurt for past 30+ yrs, 7-8 yrs ago I was having swallen lumph node (missed or not diagnosed thyroid issue) I have a small syst on my left node on my thyroid..and now this eye issues being part of SE of Arimidex...When will they pay attention that patient may have a genuine reason to believe something is wrong..
I am so frustrated and concerned abt my eyes...Hope god warches over me as I have really no faith in some of these specialists..No offense meant to the professionals..
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Dabulls, I can understand your frustration, but please let me reassure you. First of all, the follow-up is important but since your symptoms are not detachment as of now, it is unlikely that it will happen. I've been there -- several times. It really truly is an age-related issue. Cataracts are something else, but the vitreous detachment happens to all of us who live long enough.
You really don't have to fear losing your vision. You are under the are of an ophthalmologist and you are doing everything right. You will be fine.
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While I was on Arimidex, my eyes were so dry that I was unable to tolerate wearing my gas permeable hard contact lenses and had to switch to soft lenses. Even with trying every type of lense he could find, my Eye Dr. couldn't correct my vision to what it had been, so I spent 3 years not seeing clearly. Glasses were no better. I had touble concentrating at work because I couldn't see well, plus wasn't safe to drive at night. I saw him 2-3 x a month for 3 years. He discussed my case with colleagues who were equally baffled. Finally at 3-1/2 years my Onc. took me off Arimidex due to the severity of my side effects. And within 6 months the severe dry eyes was over, I could see again, could wear gp hard lenses again, and felt like I had my life back. I'm back to seeing my Eye Dr 2x a year. It wasn't normal aging, it was the Arimidex. So don't believe your Onc that Arimidex doesn't affect your eyes because it did affect mine. Thank goodness it was reversable and that nightmare is over.
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Hello Sunshine;
I pray that you have a sucessful eye surgery and that the arimidex was not the cause. I myself just did a google search on arimedex because I believe it is related to my eye problems wit h excessive pressure. I have had glaucoma early onset since being on chemo. I remember terrible eye burning where i would be laid up in bed unable to funtion or see and then the glaucoma set in.
My parents had it but not in their late fifties, I assume arimdex or chemo or tamoxifen was the cause. Sure enough-- I read a study that tamoxifen caused glaucoma in some women. You have to weigh the pros and cons. I am stage 4 but I have naturally very low estrogn and my cancer was caused by estrogen being given by doctor -- HRT. I sid no but they inisted. It was for seizures, I know how weird my luck got with this. Read everything and weigh it out. Now I am thinking of going off the arimedix but will consult my doc first. Best of luck to all here! My eye doc today suggested I use fish oil. That is migtht reduce eye pressure > i should ahve asked him about arimedex, but they would never contradict a another doctor.
Marcia
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So did u stop taking arimidex? Are you still ok
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so many woman. Curiois aboit you and your sister in law
How are you. Oth doing
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Just googled and found this topic on eye problems.....on Monday this week, out of the blue, I began see flashes of light that look like strands of silver tinsel and numerous black webby spots moving around in my right eye. I am 1 year on arimidex. I'm finding lots of studies about eye problems on these AI drugs. It's not one drug in particular , it's the action of estrogen depletion that can cause these side effects. Everyone responds differently to these drugs but they are all depleteing estrogen and causing "accelerated female aging that resembles an exaggerated menopause."- according to one study I found today. The last paragraph really hit home for me-"As many as 40% of women completely abandon their use of AI's before the prescribed time because they cannot tolerate the side effects. Although ocular side effects may be less important or less compelling than effects such as arthralgia or hot flashes, they nevertheless may provide the straw that breaks the camel's back for cancer patients on these drugs."
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