Certain classes of drugs are known to cause eye problems. These include diuretics (water pills), antihistamines, antidepressants, drugs that lower cholesterol, beta-blockers and birth control pills. “Antihistamines often cause a very significant dry-eye syndrome,” Andreoli says.
High Blood Pressure Medication
They have beta-blockers work in the bloodstream to counteract high blood pressure. But they can harm the lacrimal gland, leading to dry eye symptoms. Beta-blockers also seem to disrupt feeling in the cornea and can lead to overall eye irritation.
While this article does not include an exhaustive list, common systemic medications that cause ocular side effects include: bisphosphonates; cyclosporine and tacrolimus; minocycline; hydroxychloroquine; ethambutol; topiramate; tamsulosin; amiodarone; anticholinergics; erectile dysfunction drugs; blood pressure ...
Risk factors for AMD include being 50 and older, smoking, having high blood pressure and eating a diet high in saturated fat. Although there is no cure for AMD, there are treatment options that may prevent or slow the progression of the disease.
If you take medication to lower your blood pressure, it's important to know that you could be increasing your risk of developing AMD, or age-related macular degeneration. These risks are significantly increased if you take Apresoline and Loniten, both of which dilate the blood vessels.
In particular, of all prescription drugs, Prednisone is the most damaging. But, extended use of any steroid-based medication has been linked to causing glaucoma, damage to the optic nerve and cataracts. Glaucoma is the build-up of pressure within the eye, which can lead to vision loss if left untreated.
Some reports have found an increased risk of cataracts from statin use, while others showed no association or even a protective effect. One possible mechanism may be statins' bidirectional effects on oxidation processes, including a possible mitochondrial effect that may increase the risk of cataracts.
Floaters and other visual disturbances.
Flashes of light or color, floaters and other visual disturbances can occur for a host of reasons, including as a side effect of a drug. Medications linked to visual disturbances include Benadryl (for allergies), Cardizem (heart disease), Elavil (depression) and Xanax (anxiety).
Digoxin (Lanoxin), or Digitalis, helps treat many heart conditions. But it can cause vision changes, including: Double vision. Blurry vision.
Side effects include changes in color perception, blurred vision, eye pain and photophobia. Fortunately, side effects rarely occur (although they are more common among patients that take higher doses) and resolve once the patient stops taking the drug.
HBP can harm your eyesight in many ways
Your eyes contain many tiny blood vessels. When subjected to the long-term effects of high blood pressure, the following conditions can develop: Blood vessel damage (retinopathy): A lack of blood flow to the retina leads to blurred vision or the complete loss of sight.
One of the most common eye-related side effects of antidepressants and anti-anxiety medications is blurred vision. Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) like Zoloft, Prozac, Lexapro, etc. directly affect the pupil and ciliary muscle function of the eye and can make it difficult to focus on near objects.
The treatment of your blurred vision will depend on the cause. It might include eye drops, laser surgery or medicines. If you have blurred vision, you may need to wear glasses or contact lenses.
Different conditions, including keratitis, trauma, hyphema, uveitis, acute glaucoma, optic neuritis, papilledema and retinal detachment, can cause sudden loss of vision.
Symptoms of high cholesterol in the eyes include yellow plaques, white rings around your cornea, and “mini-strokes” where a cholesterol plaque has blocked blood flow to part or all of your eye. It is a good idea to see your doctor if you are concerned about your cholesterol or have one of these symptoms.
While statins are highly effective and safe for most people, they have been linked to muscle pain, digestive problems and mental fuzziness in some people. Rarely, they may cause liver damage.
The most common eye symptom that is linked to high cholesterol is a xanthelasma—a flat or somewhat raised yellowish area around the eyes or near the nose. The deposits are caused by a buildup of cholesterol under the skin. Xanthelasmas do not affect your vision.
Cataract. Cataract is a clouding of the eye's lens and is the leading cause of blindness worldwide, and the leading cause of vision loss in the United States. Cataracts can occur at any age because of a variety of causes, and can be present at birth.
The leading causes of vision impairment and blindness are uncorrected refractive errors and cataracts. The majority of people with vision impairment and blindness are over the age of 50 years; however, vision loss can affect people of all ages.
Coumadin is a blood thinner that prevents clot formation in atrial fibrillation and thrombosis. Ocular side effects include retinal bleeding and subconjunctival hemorrhages, a condition where a bright red patch appearing in the white of the eye beneath the clear lining of the eye (conjunctiva).
Smoking cigarettes or being regularly exposed to tobacco smoke greatly increases your risk of macular degeneration. Obesity. Research indicates that being obese may increase your chance that early or intermediate macular degeneration will progress to the more severe form of the disease.
A larger portion of the center of vision may become blurred, and straight lines appear wavy. Central vision becomes blurry, often quickly, and there may also be blind spots. Colors may seem less bright, and straight lines may appear wavy with the waviness of lines increasing.