AARP Hearing Center
10 Medications That Can Harm Your Eyes
All medications have side effects — and some can affect your vision. Here’s what you need to know
Yulia Reznikov/Getty Images
Key takeaways
- Many common medications can cause eye issues, often mild but sometimes permanent.
- Steroids, antidepressants and certain other drugs may raise eye pressure or affect vision.
- Always tell your eye doctor about all medications you’re taking and report vision changes promptly.
All medications can cause side effects, but some can affect a part of your body you may not expect them to: your eyes.
From dry eye to changes in color perception, most medication-related changes to eyes are mild and temporary. But some drugs can lead to serious — and sometimes irreversible — eye damage, which is why it’s important to keep your eye doctor informed of all the medications you’re taking, including vitamins and supplements. It’s also important to consult an ophthalmologist if you experience any changes in your vision after starting a new medication.
More Ways to Benefit
- Related Benefit 1
- Related Benefit 2
- Related Benefit 3
- Related Benefit 4
- Related Benefit 5
Here are 10 common medications that can affect your eyes — and how to react if they do.
1. Steroids
Corticosteroids, a class of medications commonly used to treat inflammation, are known to raise eye pressure. That, in turn, can lead to open-angle glaucoma, an eye condition that causes slow, irreversible vision loss that often begins with no warning signs.
Steroids can also accelerate cataract progression and trigger a condition called central serous retinopathy, which is marked by fluid that builds up behind the retina, the innermost layer of the eye, and sometimes causes it to detach.
What you should do: Always keep your eye doctor informed of any steroids you might be taking. Don’t forget about over-the-counter options like nasal sprays, eye drops and creams, which might not require a prescription but can have the same effect on your eyes as prescription steroids.
To avoid permanent damage, use these medications for the minimum amount of time recommended by your health care provider, says Dr. Christina Weng, a professor at the Baylor College of Medicine in Houston and a spokesperson for the American Society of Retina Specialists.
If you have to use steroids for an extended time period, your ophthalmologist might recommend more frequent visits. “The longer you take [a steroid] and the higher the dose, the more likely it is to raise the eye pressure,” says Dr. Robert Weinreb, director of the Shiley Eye Institute and a professor of ophthalmology at the University of California, San Diego.
2. Antihistamines and antidepressants
Antihistamines, decongestants and antidepressants — both tricyclic antidepressants and selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) — can have similar side effects on your eyes, including dry eye, blurred vision and trouble focusing on near or distant objects.
In rare cases, these medications can also lead to angle-closure glaucoma, a condition characterized by sudden-onset symptoms such as eye pain, redness and decreased vision. These are caused by a buildup of fluid in the eye, leading to raised eye pressure.
People who are farsighted or have a very narrow drainage angle are at greater risk, Weinreb says: “Imagine a sink where the drain is blocked and the faucet is turned on.” The fluid level builds up quickly, he adds.
What you should do: You can use artificial tears to address dryness in your eyes, Weng says. And if you have trouble focusing, you might consider a stronger pair of glasses while you are taking the medication. However, if these side effects continue, you should consult your eye doctor, she says. What’s more, if you experience symptoms of angle-closure glaucoma, you should head to the emergency room right away to prevent blindness.
3. Anticoagulants
Also known as blood thinners, anticoagulants can increase your risk of ocular bleeding.
What you should do: Although a subconjunctival hemorrhage — which occurs when a blood vessel bursts inside your eye — looks dramatic, it’s typically not serious and resolves on its own. However, you should always tell your surgeon if you’re taking anticoagulants, says Dr. Allister Gibbons, an ophthalmologist at the Bascom Palmer Eye Institute and an associate professor at the University of Miami.
4. Erectile dysfunction medications
These drugs can inhibit the photoreceptors in your eyes (special light-sensing cells that help you see) and cause changes in color vision. Most people who experience this side effect report seeing a blue tint that generally occurs one to two hours after taking the medication.
In rare cases, erectile dysfunction medications can also trigger a form of optic neuropathy, a serious condition that causes permanent vision loss. The condition reduces blood flow to your optic nerve, which transmits information from your eye to your brain.
What you should do: Changes in color perception are usually temporary and resolve when the medication is discontinued. As for optic neuropathy, the condition is extremely rare, Weng says. But don’t forget to mention erectile dysfunction medications when you talk to your eye doctor.
5. Antiarrhythmics
Medications like amiodarone (Cordarone, Pacerone) treat heartbeats that are too fast or irregular. But they can also trigger a condition called vortex keratopathy, where deposits accumulate on your cornea, the clear tissue at the front of your eye. In very rare cases, antiarrhythmics can also lead to optic neuropathy.
What you should do: Vortex keratopathy is a harmless condition that generally doesn’t require further intervention. In most cases, corneal deposits won’t even affect the patient’s vision, Gibbons explains. However, your eye doctor might recommend seeing a cornea specialist, Weng says.
6. Medications for an enlarged prostate
Medications like tamsulosin (Flomax) and doxazosin (Cardura), used to treat an enlarged prostate, can, in some cases, cause irreversible changes in the iris, the colored part of the eye. This condition, called floppy iris syndrome, increases the risk of iris damage during cataract surgery.
What you should do: “Stopping tamsulosin before cataract surgery doesn’t help,” Gibbons says. However, eye surgeons can take extra steps to protect your iris. It’s important to let them know if you’re taking — or used to take — these medications so they can be prepared.
7. Hydroxychloroquine
Hydroxychloroquine (Plaquenil) is a medication commonly prescribed to treat malaria, rheumatoid arthritis or lupus. Long-term use can lead to a rare condition called maculopathy, which damages cells in your macula, a part of your retina, and can cause central vision loss.
It’s more common for patients to start experiencing maculopathy after several consecutive years of hydroxychloroquine use. People with other macular conditions are more likely to experience this effect, Weng says.
What you should do: The American Academy of Ophthalmology recommends seeing an ophthalmologist within the first year of beginning hydroxychloroquine to check for retinal or macular diseases. After five years of use, those without major risk factors should see an eye doctor once a year. Patients at risk may need an annual screening even before they hit the five-year mark, so it’s important to speak with your ophthalmologist to determine the best screening frequency.
8. Topiramate
This antiepileptic, commonly used to treat migraines, can cause angle-closure glaucoma in some patients.
What you should do: Tell your ophthalmologist when you start topiramate (Topamax, Eprontia) and head to the emergency room if you experience symptoms including eye pain, redness and decreased vision.
9. Tamoxifen
Mostly used as a treatment for breast cancer, this oral medication may cause damage to the retina, characterized by an accumulation of crystalline deposits around the macula. The condition is often asymptomatic, Weng says.
In rare cases, tamoxifen can also cause swelling in part of the retina. According to the National Eye Institute, this condition, called macular edema, can lead to blurry vision and vision that worsens over time. Tamoxifen has also been linked to an increased risk of dry eye and cataracts.
What you should do: Discuss any side effects with your health care provider as soon as possible, Gibbons says. Certain medications are not safe to stop on your own, he adds. Always seek your doctor’s opinion.
10. MEK inhibitors
These targeted cancer drugs can cause a type of maculopathy (damage to the macula) characterized by fluid accumulation beneath the retina, leading to blurry and distorted vision. Something that used to look straight might now look wavy, Weng says.
What you should do: Let your eye doctor know if you experience these symptoms. “Fortunately, this is something that does resolve a lot of the time,” Weng says. Your ophthalmologist might recommend stopping the MEK inhibitor and switching to a different medication.
AARP Membership
Join AARP for only $15 per year with automatic renewal. Get instant access to members-only products and hundreds of benefits, a free second membership, and a subscription to AARP The Magazine.
More From AARP
7 Magnesium Supplements and Their Uses
Experts break down uses for sleep, digestion and more, plus key safety tips
5 Supplements Older Adults Should Rethink
Natural doesn’t always mean safe, experts say
Medications That May Affect Blood Pressure
Even good pills can have a negative impact on blood pressure