Finished chemo in May and now on herceptin had 6 up to now. I used to be able to read for hours but since bc dx I can’t read for long I feel as if my eyes are worse. I have had new specs and they were not any worse. Anyone else had this problem Love Eileen
I felt that my eyes had gotten worse after chemo. Went for a sight test and yes they had so needed new glasses. As I am also on tamoxifen my optician has changed me to yearly eye tests (instead of every two years) just to keep an eye on me
Jools
Hello Eileen
I’m due for an eye test and am sure I shall need new glasses as my eyes feel much worse. I’ve been putting it off but I must get the test booked.
Take care
Love Anthi
Hi Eileen, Anthi and Jools,
I’m a year out from diagnosis - WLE, chemo, Rads, now Nolvadex D.My eyesight is now rubbish. I wear glasses for reading - do a lot of work attached to PC - for which I never had to wear glasses am certain it’s the Nolvadex that has affected my close vision.Mentioned this to Onc Registrar last week and she said that rubbish vision wasn’t a usual side effect of Tamoxifen. So, obviously I now have brain mets… no , I don’t think so- chemo is quite drastic, followed by rads, guessNolvadex has affected me in this way and also my eyes are just tired.
I usually have yearly sight tests as I wear contact lenses and my optician advised me not to have a sight test done during chemo as it causes changes to the eye. She said it can also cause minute holes at the back of the eye as well. I had to have a test done with drops because of this (after chemo I found my eyesight was’t as good). In my case everything has healed up and the minute holes have disappeared, but I was told it doesn’t reverse itself in a lot of patients. I finished chemo feeling I needed bifocals!
I need to wear reading glasses for small print now and I didn’t before. I haven’t noticed a change in long distance vision though.
Anne
Have just had my eyes tested after a longish gap - two rounds of chemo meant it did not make sense to do anything for a whi;e. Although I do need new glasses, I was reassured to find that my eyes are healthy and apart from an incipient cataract there is nothing to worry about. I think the chemos both affected my vision but temporarily. It was far more noticeable with vinolrebine than FEC.
I have been taking lutein as a supplement and feel it may well have contributed to keeping them stable.
Hi Eileen
I had a horrible scare a few wks ago re eyesight. Had a routine eye test and was asked about recent medical history. BC BC BC! During test, prob arose with 1 eye re pressure test. Was referred to eye consultant. Delays delays delays. Eventually mentioned to doc about my concerns, thought I had brain mets.
She re-assured me this was unlikely with my symptoms but I wasn’t convinced.
Final results showed normal variation! All that worry for nothing.
Will I ever be able to cope again with ‘possible’ probs?
Incidently, my eye test for vision was virtually the same as the one 2 yrs before, but I feel my vision is worse, now whats thst all about?
Irene
My close vision has been VERY bad, when I mentioned to the onc that I was having to increase the font size dramatically in order to read the computer, she wasn’t a bit interested, so I thought it was just me. But, as I’m on ‘holiday’ from chemo, I have noticed that I am not having to increase the size so much and, best of all, I can read books again! My reading/computer glasses were no help at all by the way. I am convinced it is the chemo, but thought it may well be due to the aqueous humour being a little less aqueous than normal.
Hi Quisie,
Very interested in your comment that you change font on the computer to see better. How do you do this?
My eyesight has deteriorated and neither my distance nor my reading glasses help with a computer screen.
I suppose I should get over the feeling that going back to the optician is a waste of money and get my spectacles updated!!
Cheers Ruftikins
i have found that my eyesight has become a lot worse whilst on zoladex for the past three months, also, i had a terrible time on an anti- depressant that my gp prescribed to help with the hot sweats, after nearly two weeks i read the leaflet in the pack as my eyes wouldn’t stay still during the night, and they were pouring, well, one of the no no’s of the anti depressant was not to use if you have high pressure, my eyes have not been the same since, as i do have natural high pressure, but i am going to wait till i come off the zoladex to get my eyes tested, as its too expensive to be changing glasses every few months
Alisonx
Hi Ruftikins
For the computer itself you’ll need to either go to my computer - and find something related to display or for disabled users. For the browser you just find where to make text bigger or use CTRL + (I think) I use a mac and adjusted everything in system preferences, there is even a means that by pressing three keys at once i can enlarge the application i am in. For word processing there is an option on the bottom where you can make the page ‘bigger’ - I had mine set at 150%.
Hope that helps
Ruth x
Hi Ruth,
Thanks for your help. It wasn’t easy but managed it in the end!!
Text is now bigger and a lot easier to read. Went through Windows accessibility options and changed the font size in there.
No more peering!!
Cheers again, Jean
glad to have been of help, Jean - at one point i was holding my laptop inches from my nose then having to put it down to type - hence i decided to find a better way :-))
Hi all
Can chemo affect your eyesight, mine has definitely got worse, especially in my right eye.
Cecelia. x
Cecilia, seems that although it isn’t listed as a side effect - lots of us have noticed a problem, so I’d say yes, chemo can affect your eyesight!
Ruth x
Oh dear… yet another nasty side effect.
Ho hummmmmmmmmmm
Cecelia. x
I’ve been alright but I remember my Mum had problems with her vision after chemo. She got referred to the eye hospital and they gave her some drops which helped. There is a limit to what a high street optician can do for you so if you’re still struggling try asking your GP for a referral to a specialist.
I asked my Onc about this only last week as my eyesight is definitely blurry. He said the steroids can affect how much fluid there is in your eyes, so not to get an eye test/new glasses until chemo is behind you.
Jacquie