Can Chemo Affect Your Eyes – You probably know that cancer treatment can cause side effects such as nausea, fatigue, and hair loss. But some types of cancer treatment can also cause eye-related side effects that can affect your quality of life, including the quality of your vision, the ability to read easily, or the ability to drive safely.
This is why our Dr. Nagam Al-Jubidi recommends an eye exam before starting cancer treatment. “With good screening and monitoring, eye-related side effects can be prevented or reduced,” says Al-Jubidi.
Contents
Can Chemo Affect Your Eyes
Annual eye exams are important for detecting vision and eye changes because they provide your care team with a baseline of your current vision and eye function, says Al-Jubidi.
How Can Leukemia Affect The Eyes?
Eye changes are more common in cancer patients who undergo radiation therapy. This is especially true for head and neck cancer patients because the radiation is delivered close to the eyes. Your care team will give you the most accurate dose to kill the cancer cells. But sometimes radiation can damage the retina and optic nerve, leading to vision loss.
These side effects appear up to 18 months after treatment and are often permanent, says Al-Jubidi. Patients receiving radiation to the head and neck should see their eye doctor more frequently for up to 18 months after treatment before going for annual eye exams to monitor for side effects.
It is important to talk to your care team if you experience any of the following symptoms, even if they are minor.
If you experience vision changes, talk to your eye doctor. If you have severe vision loss, you may be referred to a low vision service, such as vision rehabilitation or occupational therapy. You can use magnifying glasses for reading and keeping the house tidy to avoid slipping.
Hair Loss And Regrowth After Chemotherapy
Chemotherapy, immunotherapy, and hormone therapy are known to cause various eye problems. Most drug-related eye changes are temporary and resolve with dose adjustment or discontinuation of the drug.
Red, swollen eyelids. Also known as conjunctivitis, this condition can cause the eyelids to become red, inflamed, crusted, or filled with pus. To cope, Al-Jubidi recommends keeping your eyes clean and free of crusts. “It’s an old method, but a warm compress can really help relieve symptoms,” she says. Be sure to use a separate towel for each eye to prevent germs from spreading from one eye to the other. If you wear contacts, al-Jubidi recommends wearing glasses until your symptoms improve.
Watery eyes. If your eyes are swollen, they may start to water. Al-Jubidi recommends using warm, moist compresses to help reduce inflammation and tear production. Also, in some cases, chemotherapy or targeted medications can block the tear ducts and cause excess tear production, so you should avoid rubbing your eyes. In extreme cases, your eye doctor may recommend a procedure to help drain the eye more effectively.
Flashes of light or floaters. some people have small dark shapes or bright lines in their field of vision. These so-called floaters and flashes come and go and often do not require treatment. But sometimes floaters can be a sign of a more serious eye condition. “If you suddenly start seeing repeated flare-ups or lots of floaters, it could be a serious problem and you should see a doctor immediately,” says Al-Jubidi.
What Is Lupus, And Why Would Selena Gomez Get Chemo For It?
Dry eyes. some types of chemotherapy or targeted therapy drugs can make your eyes very dry or painful. Al-Zubidi recommends using artificial tears without preservatives. If that doesn’t help, talk to your doctor. You may be a good candidate for a procedure where small plugs are placed to help seal moisture in your tear ducts. “In the clinic, the procedure only takes a few minutes, and most patients don’t feel anything,” says Al-Jubidi. Your doctor may prescribe temporary plugs, which go away after a few months, or semi-permanent plugs, which last longer and must be removed in a separate procedure once your dry eye is gone.
Eyelid changes. depending on your treatment, your eyelids may change color. Sometimes infections like blepharitis can cause eyelashes to grow into your eye, causing pain. Your doctor may recommend using artificial tears to relieve discomfort. The good news is that if you do not receive radiation therapy, the eyelids will return to normal after treatment is completed.
Cataract. If you notice cloudy areas in your vision, you may have cataracts. They usually have to be surgically removed to avoid damaging your vision, says Al-Jubidi.
Glaucoma. Strong eye pressure can damage the optic nerve. You may need surgery to relieve the pressure. If left untreated, glaucoma can lead to vision loss or blindness.
Colds And Flus During Chemo: Causes, Treatment, Prevention
If you experience any of these side effects, talk to your doctor. “The sooner you can treat side effects related to your eyes, the sooner you can prevent serious damage,” says Al-Jubidi. “If you haven’t seen an eye doctor yet, ask your oncologist for a referral to help you manage vision changes.”
This is why our Dr. Nagam Al-Jubidi recommends an eye exam before starting cancer treatment. “With good screening and monitoring, eye-related side effects can be prevented or reduced,” says Al-Jubidi.
Eye changes are more common in cancer patients who undergo radiation therapy. This is especially true for head and neck cancer patients because the radiation is delivered close to the eyes. Your care team will give you the most accurate dose to kill the cancer cells. But sometimes radiation can damage the retina and optic nerve, leading to vision loss.
These side effects appear up to 18 months after treatment and are often permanent, says Al-Jubidi. Patients receiving radiation to the head and neck should see their eye doctor more frequently for up to 18 months after treatment before going for annual eye exams to monitor for side effects.
Bubble On Eyeball: Causes, Diagnosis & Treatment
Chemotherapy, immunotherapy, and hormone therapy are known to cause various eye problems. Most drug-related eye changes are temporary and resolve with dose adjustment or discontinuation of the drug. Clinically Faith Selchik, DNP, AOCNP, Nursing, Oncology – Ann Pietrangelo – Updated May 23, 2023.
After being diagnosed with cancer, your first reaction may be to ask your doctor about chemotherapy.
After all, chemotherapy is one of the most common forms of cancer treatment. But chemotherapy does more than get rid of cancer.
Although chemotherapy drugs are powerful enough to kill fast-growing cancer cells, they can also harm healthy cells. It can cause various side effects. The severity of these side effects depends on:
Don’t Ignore That White Spot In The Eye
Many side effects go away soon after treatment, but may last for months, years, or not go away at all.
It is important to discuss any side effects with your doctor. In some cases, depending on how your body responds, your doctor may need to adjust the type or dose of chemotherapy.
Regular monitoring of blood counts is an important part of chemotherapy. The medication can cause a loss of healthy red blood cells, leading to anemia.
Chemo can also cause neutropenia, which means you have a low white blood cell count. White blood cells play an important role in the immune system and help fight infection. When receiving chemo, it is important to take precautions to avoid exposure to viruses and bacteria.
Cancer Treatment Side Effect: Skin Changes
A low platelet count called thrombocytopenia can also occur during chemotherapy. Cells called platelets help blood clot. If they are low, you are more likely to bruise and bleed easily. Symptoms include:
Some chemo drugs can damage the heart, leading to cardiomyopathy, or heart muscle disease. This can disrupt your heart rhythm, a condition called arrhythmia. These conditions can affect your heart’s ability to pump blood effectively.
These problems are less likely if your heart is strong and healthy when you start chemotherapy.
The central nervous system controls emotions, thought patterns, and coordination. Chemotherapy drugs can cause memory problems or make it difficult to concentrate or think clearly. This is sometimes called the “chem brain.”
Retina Problems: Warning Signs You May Have A Retinal Disease
Chemo drugs can cause different problems in your nervous system based on nerve damage. Symptoms include:
Unsteadiness and difficulty balancing increase the risk of falling. Working with an occupational or physical therapist can help improve your motor skills and coordination.
Taking chemotherapy drugs too often or in large doses increases the chance of mouth or throat pain and discomfort. Some types of chemo affect your mucosa more than others. You can enjoy.
If you have difficulty eating or the treatment makes food taste unusual or unpleasant, it can lead to unpredictable weight loss.
Lesson: Ocular Side Effects Of New Cancer Agents
Nausea is another common symptom of chemotherapy, which can lead to vomiting, dehydration, and loss of appetite. Talk to your doctor about anti-nausea medications to reduce vomiting during treatment.
Even if you don’t feel hungry, it’s important to eat healthy foods on a regular basis. It helps to try to eat foods that are soft and easy to swallow.
Eating small, frequent, high-calorie snacks instead of large ones
Can thyroid affect eyes, can chemo affect others, can chemo affect your eyesight, can chemo affect eyesight, can chemo affect your memory, can a thyroid problem affect your eyes, can chemo affect your heart, can chemo affect your vision, can rheumatoid arthritis affect your eyes, can chemo affect your teeth, can shingles affect your eyes, can psoriatic arthritis affect your eyes
