Locations:
Search IconSearch
December 28, 2020/Health Conditions/Eye Care

What to Do When Medications Affect Your Vision

Some drugs come with visual side effects

eye made out of medications

As you fill out a new prescription, you might not think of the impact it could have on your eyes. Yet some prescription drugs and even a few over-the-counter remedies can have serious visual side effects.

Advertisement

Cleveland Clinic is a non-profit academic medical center. Advertising on our site helps support our mission. We do not endorse non-Cleveland Clinic products or services. Policy

Medications can have a variety of effects on your eyes, ranging from minor, temporary issues such as blurred vision to permanent damage.

Learn which drugs cause the most problems — and what to watch for if you have risk factors.

Which drugs pose the most concern?

According to ophthalmologist Richard Gans, MD, a few stand out in particular, but you should always check for potential visual side effects with any new medication.

Here are a few common culprits:

Corticosteroids— ​People take these for a range of conditions, from asthma and allergies to arthritis and skin conditions. But whether in cream or pill form, they can cause swelling in the back of the eye or retina and potentially lead to cataracts.

“Even an over-the-counter nasal spray like Flonase® comes with risks,” Dr. Gans says.

Antihistamines —​ They may fight allergies, but they also can raise certain patients’ risk for glaucoma. See more information below for those with particularly high risk levels.

Antipsychotic medications — Drugs such as Thorazine® and Mellaril® can be toxic to your retina.

Antimalarials — For example, Plaquenil (hydroxychloroquine) — used to treat malaria, lupus and arthritis — also has toxic effects on the retina.

Dr. Gans notes there are other drugs that may raise eye surgery risk and other conditions, so talk to your doctor if you have concerns.

Advertisement

“And if you take a medication that comes with risk, be sure to have regular eye exams to make sure they don’t damage your vision,” he says.

Who has the highest risk?

Anyone taking medications such as cortisone and others listed above may experience visual side effects.

“If you have glaucoma or diabetes, you should be especially cautious,” Dr. Gans says. “Some people’s eyes are configured to have a narrow angle that puts them at risk for an acute onset of glaucoma,” he adds.

Sulfa (sulfonamide or sulphonamide) drugs like Topamax® or certain antihistamines or incontinence medications like Detrol® or Ditropan® can trigger an acute attack of glaucoma in someone with a narrow angle.

People with diabetes are especially prone to developing blurred eyesight from cortisones, he adds.

“With high blood sugar levels there’s temporary swelling within the lens of the eye, resulting in blurred vision,” he says. “With poor control of blood sugar structural damage can occur within the eye that can cause severe vision loss.”

What to watch out for

If you get a new prescription or even start a new OTC medication, be aware of anything that causes pain to the eyes or distorted or blurred vision.

“If you do experience a problem, talk to the doctor who prescribed the medication,” Dr. Gans advises. “Don’t stop the medication without your doctor’s advice. They’ll want to assess whether the medication is the likely culprit — and sometimes the benefits outweigh the side effects.”

Always read the warning labels too, he says — especially if you have a condition such as glaucoma or diabetes. A variety of medications have warnings that patients with glaucoma shouldn’t take them.

“Remember, if you’re having clear-cut eye problems related to medication, see an eye doctor,” Dr. Gans emphasizes. “Your vision is too important to assume side effects will just go away.”

Advertisement

Learn more about our editorial process.

Related Articles

Person holding contact lens on finger up to their eye
December 2, 2024/Eye Care
Tips To Avoid Eye Infection From Contacts

Keep your eyes healthy by not sleeping in your contacts, properly caring for your lenses and wearing eye protection when necessary

Hands holding two different kinds of pain medications separated by a white line
November 29, 2024/Primary Care
Can You Take Acetaminophen and Ibuprofen Together?

You can alternate these OTCs to help with pain management and fever reduction

Person in shower, with water running over their face
November 22, 2024/Eye Care
Can You Shower With Contacts?

While it may seem harmless, showering — or even swimming or washing your face — with contacts in can cause sensitivity to light, irritation and even an infection

Close-up of face profile, with eye open and eye drops being added to the eye
November 20, 2024/Eye Care
Can You Use Contact Solution as Eye Drops?

The plain answer is ‘no’ — ingredients meant to clean and disinfect your contact lenses can cause irritation, redness or dryness to your eyes

Child imagining being afraid of getting a shot, and then being afraid while actually getting a shot by a healthcare provider
November 19, 2024/Primary Care
What’s the Nocebo Effect? Examples and Effects on Your Health

The nocebo effect is a phenomenon where expectations of negative outcomes may influence the results

Person with head against eye exam equipment, with provider looking through other end at eyes
October 30, 2024/Brain & Nervous System
Your Vision Can Predict Dementia — Here’s How

Changes to your vision may have an impact on the way your brain processes information

Palm of hand holding two capsules
October 14, 2024/Digestive
Is Acetaminophen Safe To Take When You’re Drinking?

The answer depends on both dosage and drinking habits

Close up of half a person's face with puffy under eye bag
September 30, 2024/Eye Care
Puffy Eyes? How To Get Rid of Eye Bags

Apply a cold compress, use antihistamine eye drops and limit salt to help reduce puffiness

Trending Topics

Person touching aching ear, with home remedies floating around
Home Remedies for an Ear Infection: What To Try and What To Avoid

Not all ear infections need antibiotics — cold and warm compresses and changing up your sleep position can help

Infographic of foods high in iron, including shrimp, oysters, peas, cream of wheat, prunes, eggs, broccoli, beef and chicken
52 Foods High In Iron

Pump up your iron intake with foods like tuna, tofu and turkey

Person squeezing half a lemon into a glass of water
Is Starting Your Day With Lemon Water Healthy?

A glass of lemon water in the morning can help with digestion and boost vitamin C levels, and may even help get you into a better routine

Ad