vision & tamoxifen

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disneyfan2008
disneyfan2008 Member Posts: 6,583 Member
in Breast Cancer #1
I went for an eye exam and the Dr asked if still on tamoxifen. I said yes for another 18 mths or so. HE DID a very long exam with the BRIGHT LIGHT very close to my head (head to head) Afterwards he said Tsmoxifen can damage a certain nerve ending in eye! I am a okday but wondering if anyone else has heard this?

Denise

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  • JuJuBeez
    JuJuBeez Member Posts: 332
    #2
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    Hi Denise!
    One of the
    Hi Denise!

    One of the side-effects of Tamoxifen is glaucoma. It's one of those side-effects that is listed further down than the hot flashes, bone pain, muscle pain, etc. ha ha. Seriously though, my sister is an Optometrist, and she said just to be sure to have my pressure checked every year. I have glaucoma on both sides of my family, so I'm a little more concerned about that than some of the other wonderful Tamoxifen bag-o-tricks. I'm lucky to have my eye exams done by my wonderful sister, so I know she will check everything to be sure I'm ok.

    Take care!
    Julie
  • Lynn Smith
    Lynn Smith Member Posts: 1,264 Member
    #3
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    JuJuBeez said:

    Hi Denise!
    One of the
    Hi Denise!

    One of the side-effects of Tamoxifen is glaucoma. It's one of those side-effects that is listed further down than the hot flashes, bone pain, muscle pain, etc. ha ha. Seriously though, my sister is an Optometrist, and she said just to be sure to have my pressure checked every year. I have glaucoma on both sides of my family, so I'm a little more concerned about that than some of the other wonderful Tamoxifen bag-o-tricks. I'm lucky to have my eye exams done by my wonderful sister, so I know she will check everything to be sure I'm ok.

    Take care!
    Julie

    Eye problems
    A year ago I was in the car.It was evening.I stepped out of my car for just a minute.Suddenly without any warning there were flashes of light.I told my husband to get that lightning bug out of my hair.He said there isnt one.I kept getting these flashes.He kept saying nothing there.Finally I had him take me to emergency.They checked my eyes but not thoroughly. Told me I needed to see a eye doctor.I called my doctor.It had slowed some by the time I saw my doctor but I checked on line some different things this could be. Saw the doctor.He found I had a cataract and a floater(that was another thing).This little dot kept appearing along with the light flashes. My eye doctor said the tamoxifin caused the cataract BUT I need to take that for my bc.He said your body and health come first.He told me the cataract is so small and no reason to operate now.

    I mentioned this to my friend who is a 16 year survivor. She doesn't have cataracts but some vision impairment after taking tamox for 5 year and another drug for 5 years.

    Just one of those things.Take one thing and something else happens. Now the glaucoma thing scares me.Cataracts and Floaters I can take.

    Lynn Smith
  • disneyfan2008
    disneyfan2008 Member Posts: 6,583 Member
    #4
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    Lynn Smith said:

    Eye problems
    A year ago I was in the car.It was evening.I stepped out of my car for just a minute.Suddenly without any warning there were flashes of light.I told my husband to get that lightning bug out of my hair.He said there isnt one.I kept getting these flashes.He kept saying nothing there.Finally I had him take me to emergency.They checked my eyes but not thoroughly. Told me I needed to see a eye doctor.I called my doctor.It had slowed some by the time I saw my doctor but I checked on line some different things this could be. Saw the doctor.He found I had a cataract and a floater(that was another thing).This little dot kept appearing along with the light flashes. My eye doctor said the tamoxifin caused the cataract BUT I need to take that for my bc.He said your body and health come first.He told me the cataract is so small and no reason to operate now.

    I mentioned this to my friend who is a 16 year survivor. She doesn't have cataracts but some vision impairment after taking tamox for 5 year and another drug for 5 years.

    Just one of those things.Take one thing and something else happens. Now the glaucoma thing scares me.Cataracts and Floaters I can take.

    Lynn Smith

    Eye Dr did make comment NOT
    Eye Dr did make comment NOT Frequently found as side effect but KEEPS an eye on it.

    (DID have hysterectomy due to side effects this past May)

    Denise

    Thanks for info
  • RozHopkins
    RozHopkins Member Posts: 578 Member
    #5
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    Eye sight
    Hi Denise, Yes was told cataracts can be caused by Tamoxifen. I have one in the early stages in one eye. Another thing to add to the list afraid. Which reminds me I must make an appointment, well overdue an eye test. Thanks for reminding me. Hope you are OK

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