Plaquenil Eye Exam

Plaquenil (hydroxychloroquine) is a medication that is commonly prescribed to patients with systemic auto-immune diseases or other rheumatological problems, such as Lupus, Rheumatoid arthritis, or Sjogren’s syndrome. While the medication is generally very effective, there are rare but potentially serious side effects that can permanently affect the patient’s vision.

In very early stages, Plaquenil toxicity does not cause symptoms. It is important to note, it CAN be detected by your optometrist in these early stages. We advise patients taking Plaquenil to have a baseline eye examination to determine if they have any pre-existing retinal disease. Tests such as a retinal OCT, a visual field test, a retinal photo, and an ERG will be performed. These tests will then be repeated yearly to compare against the baseline. If changes are noted, your optometrist will contact your rheumatologist and the medication can be discontinued before any permanent vision loss occurs.