Can medications cause vision problems?

Most of us know that medicine can sometimes cause side effects such as dry mouth. But did you know that medications can also cause vision problems such as dry eyes or sensitivity to light? Some drugs can even lead to serious eye problems or vision loss.

Most medicines are perfectly safe, but a small percentage can cause vision problems. When taking a medication, be sure to tell your doctor about any vision problems. Catching them early can prevent permanent damage to your eyesight. Below are 5 types of drugs that may cause vision side effects.

1. Acne Medication - Vision symptoms may include dry eyes and a sudden decrease in night vision.

2. Antihistamines - Antihistamines relieve hay fever and other allergy symptoms. They work by blocking histamines produced by the body that cause a runny nose, watery eyes, sneezing, and itching. In some people, these drugs can cause an emergency condition called angle-closure glaucoma, which occurs when the pressure inside the eye increases rapidly. Symptoms include headache, severe eye pain, nausea and vomiting, blurred vision, and seeing halos around lights.

3. Antimalarial drugs – These medications treat rheumatoid arthritis and lupus, and they can prevent or treat malaria. While rare, some people who take these medications over time can develop retinal toxicity, leading to permanent vision loss.

4. Corticosteroids – Prednisone is a type of corticosteroid used to treat conditions such as arthritis, lupus, psoriasis, severe allergies, ulcerative colitis, and breathing disorders. Prednisone is well known to increase a patient's risk of developing cataract or glaucoma. The drug can cause an elevation in eye pressure, which is a major risk factor for developing glaucoma

Erectile Dysfunction Drugs – Men taking these drugs for erectile dysfunction (ED) have reported blurred vision, sensitivity to light, and seeing a temporary blue tinge to objects.

Source: www.webmd.com/eye-health/features/medications-cause-vision-problems?