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Side Effects with Glivec

Hi
I have been on 400mg Glivec for 6 months, and I have been very fortunate in not having too many side effects. But recently I have experienced some vision blurring, this is possibly old age and I should have my eyes tested, or is it a side effect? If it is a side effect of the drug, will it pass or do I have this for the duration of this medication?
Look forward to your comments
Tony.

Hi tony,ive been on glive for over 5 years now and blurred vision was one of my worst side effects ,i could barely see for the first few weeks,i still have it but not as bad.take care,kathy.

Hi Tony and Kathy,

I think this side effect is due to the edaema (and therefore extra fluid) around the eyes that is a side effect of imatinib for so many. I am not sure that it will pass entirely but hopefully it will get better with time. It might be a good idea to have a check up anyway.

best wishes,
Sandy

Hi Sandy Hi Kathy
Thanks for your replies, I do have edaema around my eyes so that is possibly the problem. So it looks like down to Vision Express on Friday and get some new goggles. Happy New year to you both
Love Tony

Hi Tony
There could be so many reasons for the blurred vision.

If you already wear glasses you could just need a routine adjustment of your prescription, entirely normal and nothing to do with glivec.

May also depend on your age, for example around 40 ish most people need to either get reading glasses or to adjust their regular prescription so that reading is easier - again entirely normal. Older people, around 60 ish begin to get cataracts which again affects the vision.

There can also be eye diseases, general diseases and infections which can present as blurred vision

I also understand that tyrosine kinase inhibitors affect tear production and the eyes can be more watery and this can make you think your vision is blurred.

Some people also suffer from sub-conjunctival haemorrhages, bright red pools of blood on the white of the eye, absolutely harmless - although advisable to have your blood pressure checked.

I don't think that glivec has any side effects upon the actual eyesight, maybe just a coincidence?

Let us know how you get on and wishing you all the best

Susan
Susan

Hi Tony,
I was on Gleevec for 10 months and I ended up with pseudo tumor cerbri (elevated spinal fluid pressue). This was causing my optic nerves to swell and blurred vision. IF your blurred vision continues you might want to check with an ophthalmologist just to make sure the blurred vision isn't something more serious.
I also ended up with the blurred vision when I was switched to Spycel and now Tasigna. I am now on a diuretic (Diomox) to control the elevated spinal pressure.
Chuck