OCD Action

aishah
Member

Hi all,

I was just wondering if anyone's eyesight has worsened since being on medication. Since starting a new medication 3 weeks ago my eyesight has got a lot worse, I can't see properly with my reading glasses on now so am going to make an appt with the optician this week.

I know blurred vision can be a side effect of taking Quetiapine but thought it might have settled down by now.

Regards
Bridget

Mon Sep 5 2011 20:57:40 #
Ratwomble
Member

Hi Bridget

I've not experienced any vision problemson my drugs and not heard of any others.

Hugs

David

Mon Sep 5 2011 21:53:46 #
Cuthbert ffoliott
Moderator

Hi Bridget -

I just did a brief survey on Pubmed, the largest medical database. I could find very little on the relationship between quetiapine and eyesight. I am sure that, had there been a real connection, that there would have been hundreds of articles.

However, I found just one publication on the link between apiprazole (another atypical adjunct medication) and myopia (a patient went from 20/20 vision to blurred, myopic vision). But when he stopped it, he got promptly back to his perfect vision. So if there's something, it seems to be 100% reversible. A lowering of the dose could already be helpful.

The tentative upshot: there's no reason for fear of panic. You are right in going to the optician, he/she can determine what exactly has happened, in technical terms, and also see if something purely physical has changed (retina, ability to focus, whatever).

Hope this eases your mind a bit,

Cuthbert.

Tue Sep 6 2011 8:32:06 #
Cuthbert ffoliott
Moderator

(correction: 'aripiprazole')

Tue Sep 6 2011 9:33:18 #
blueboy
Member

my eyes are a bit blurry since being on sertraline... i cant focus , like they are strained or tired... but i am also sleepy most of the time

Tue Sep 6 2011 16:42:01 #
aishah
Member

Hi,

Thanks for your replies. I am waiting for a call back from my psychiatrist to get his opinion first before going to the opticians. I must say that each time I start a new medication my eyesight worsens, this not the first time, but in the past has always settled.

Will keep you posted

Bridget

Tue Sep 6 2011 21:29:05 #