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.
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.