Plaquenil and The Eye

By Dr. Kevin -

 Hydroxychloroquine (HCQ) and chloroquine are commonly used to treat lupus but may cause serious eye problems over time. A new study from China looked at data from the FDA's Adverse Event Reporting System (2004–2024) and found that these drugs are linked to several vision-related side effects, including cataracts, macular degeneration, glaucoma, retinal degeneration, cystoid macular edema (CME), and optic atrophy.

Researchers found that eye issues were more common in women and middle-aged patients. Cataracts showed up the fastest (about 4 months after starting the drug), while retinal degeneration took the longest (over 2.5 years). The drugs are believed to build up in eye tissues, especially in the retina, possibly causing long-term damage.

The study suggests these medications carry a real risk of vision problems, and further research is needed to understand exactly how the damage occurs and how to prevent it.

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