| Brand name |
Generic name |
Indication |
Reported Ocular Side Effects |
| Klonopin |
clonazepam |
epilepsy |
Side effects from benzodiazepine derivatives are rare, but the drugs can
cause decreased corneal reflex, decreased depth perception and abnormal extraocular muscle
movement. Can cause a temporary allergic conjunctivitis and may cause pupillary dilatation
leading to the isolated narrow-angle attack. |
| Lupron |
leuprolide acetate |
prostate cancer and endome-triosis |
Some patients experience blurry vision following injection; may last from
one hour to as long as three weeks. May cause pseudotumor cerebri. |
| Nolvadex |
tamoxifen |
breast cancer |
Six percent of all patients develop keratopathy or retinopathy.
Keratopathy appears as whorl-like subepithelial deposits; it usually is reversible.
Retinopathy may include edema, hemorrhage, optic disc swelling and vision loss. After one
or more years of dosage with 100 mg/day or more, patients may develop tamoxifen
retinopathy, manifesting as striking white-to-yellow refractile bodies around and temporal
to the macula. Patients should have baseline eye exams before beginning this drug. |
| Ortho-Novum |
norethindrone/mestranol |
contraception |
Women taking these drugs have a higher incidence of migraine,
thrombophlebitis and psuedotumor cerebri than normal. May decrease tolerance to contact
lenses. May be other side effects, but they await further documentation. |
| Procardia |
nifedipine |
hyperten-sion, angina |
Transient blindness at peak levels, blurred vision, ocular irritation with
periorbital edema. Causes side effects more often than other calcium-channel blockers.
Rarely, patients taking ocular beta-blockers in addition to this drug experience
arrhythmia. |
| Procrit |
epoetin alfa |
red blood cell enhance-ment |
Patients who are receiving hemodialysis and this drug may experience
visual hallucinations within two to 13 weeks after starting the medication. |
| Proventil |
albuterol |
asthma |
Seldom clinically significant, though patients have reported vivid
hallucinations following administration. |
| Prozac |
fluoxetine |
depression |
Rare and reversible. Some evidence suggests the drug can cause mydriasis
leading to narrow angle glaucoma. Blurred vision may occur but is usually not significant |
| Pulmicort Turbuhaler |
budesonide |
asthma |
High dosage over an extended period significantly increases the risk of
ocular hypertension.Can lead to subcapsular cataract. |
| Retrovir |
zidovudine |
HIV |
Probably causes CME, definitely can cause hypertrichosis and skin rashes.
Hyperpigmentation of eyelids and conjunctiva reported in heavily pigmented patients.
Diplopia may occur secondary to a generalized myopathy. |
| Rocephin |
ceftriaxone |
infection |
Rarely may result in mild reversible ocular surface inflammation. |
| Sandimmune |
cyclosporine |
anti-inflam-matory |
Systemic: Severe ocular pain without any evidence of ocular abnormality,
severe visual hallucinations, reversible cortical blindness, optic disc edema Topical
ocular 2% solution (still investigational in U.S.): eyelid irritation, superficial
punctate keratitis, ocular pain w/ or w/o hyperemia, eyelash proliferation and possibly
reactivation of stromal herpes simplex keratitis. |
| Synthroid |
levothyroxine |
hypothyroid-ism |
CNS effects, including hallucination, may occur in thyroid patients with
underlying psychiatric disorders. Pre- and peri-pubescent children may be susceptible to
pseudotumor cerebri. |
