Chemotherapy Side Effects on the Eyes

Chemotherapy patients not only have to take chemotherapy drugs, but they also take drugs to manage the side effects of the treatments. These drugs can cause a host of symptoms, including eye problems. Some are short-term and curable with eye drops. Others are permanent or require more than a topical medication to cure.

Cataracts

• Certain drugs, including steroids, can cause cataracts in chemotherapy patients. These drugs include prednisone, hydrocortisone and methylprednisone.

Pink Eye

• Some chemotherapy drugs can cause pink eye, also called conjunctivitis. These include capecitabine, methotrexate, epirubicin and carmustine.

Dry Eyes

• The drugs isotretinoin and tretinoin can cause dry eyes in chemotherapy patients.

Glaucoma

• Chemotherapy patients can develop glaucoma, for which there are no symptoms except a gradual loss of vision.

Pain from Light

• Pain in the eyes from exposure to light is called photophobia. This can be a side effect of chemotherapy.