Just what the doctor ordered … may be just what’s making your eyes more vulnerable.
Can medications affect your eyesight?
It is possible for certain medications to have an effect on your eyesight. Because of its rich blood supply and relatively small mass, your eye may be susceptible to some drugs and toxic agents.
It’s important to learn which medications, both prescription and non-prescription (over-the-counter), can alter the quantity or the quality of your vision and which medications pose a threat to your future eye health and well-being.
The three primary side effects.
Potential adverse effects of medications on your eyes can be classified into three basic categories:
1. Medications that can cause blurred vision or alter your eyes’ ability to adjust to the environment. These medicines can affect your quantity of vision.
2. Medications that can induce glare, increase light sensitivity, or impair light-dark adaptation affect your quality of vision.
3. Medications that can contribute to vision disorders pertain to medications that can become a factor in developing disorders such as: cataracts, keratopathies, retinopathies, maculopathies, optic neuropathies and glaucoma. These potential effects from certain medications are typically long term, potentially more serious, and pose a greater threat to vision. However, their progression can usually be prevented, or at least limited, if recognized early and the offending agent is discontinued or the dosage reduced.
The invisible enemy.
There is an important link between quality of vision and eye disorders: it’s ultraviolet radiation (UV), the invisible threat to vision. There is a growing body of experimental and epidemiological evidence connecting chronic ultraviolet radiation exposure with vision-threatening ocular disorders such as cataracts. Transitions® lenses always protect you from 100% of damaging UVA and UVB rays.
Medications that either dilate the pupil (increasing the amount of UV entering the eye) or increase the effects of UV on the eye (medications known as photosensitizers) may increase the risk of developing UV-related eye disease.
If you are concerned about the effects your medications may have on your eyes, or if you experience any eye-related side effects, you should consult your primary care doctor or eyecare professional.
Who is at higher risk for eye conditions and diseases?
Studies have shown that there are certain people who are at a higher risk of experiencing eye conditions or eye diseases. For example, diabetes, which affects approximately 18 million U.S. adults, can increase one’s risk of eye disease. In fact, many people don’t realize they are diabetic until symptoms, like vision loss, occur.
Also, studies suggest that glaucoma – a chronic, potentially blinding disease that requires life-long treatment – is the leading cause of blindness in the Hispanic population age 65 and older and in the African-American population in the United States.
Please remember that this information is not intended to be a substitution for medical advice. Transitions Optical recommends that you discuss any vision-related and health concerns with your eyecare professional or physician.