Plaquenil Eye Exams in Tacoma

Why Are Annual Eye Exams So Important with Plaquenil® (Hydroxychloroquine)?

Plaquenil® (hydroxychloroquine) is a prescription medication commonly used to treat autoimmune and inflammatory conditions. While it is highly effective and has life-changing improvements for many patients, long-term use carries a RARE risks to vision. That’s why regular eye exams are a required part of Plaquenil therapy.

What Conditions Can Plaquenil Treat?

Plaquenil is commonly used to help:

• Rheumatoid arthritis
• Systemic lupus erythematosus (lupus)
• Other autoimmune or inflammatory conditions
• Among others

For patients with autoimmune disease, Plaquenil helps reduce inflammation, pain, fatigue, and disease flares. Many people take it daily for years or even decades.

How Can Plaquenil Affect Your Eyes?

Plaquenil can cause a condition called hydroxychloroquine retinopathy, which affects the retina, the light-sensitive tissue at the back of the eye responsible for sharp, central vision.

Key points to know:

• Retinal damage is RARE, especially at appropriate doses
• Early damage usually has no symptoms
• Once damage occurs, it may be irreversible
• Vision loss can progress even after stopping the medication

Because symptoms appear late, eye exams are the only way to detect toxicity early, before vision is permanently affected.

Why Are Annual Eye Exams Required?
(Please verify with your prescribing physician)

The American Academy of Ophthalmology recommends:

• A baseline eye exam within the first year of starting Plaquenil
• Annual screening exams after 5 years of use (sooner in many cases)

Risk factors include (please verify with your prescribing physician):

• High daily dosage
• Long duration of use
• Kidney disease
• Use of certain other medications
• Pre-existing retinal disease

Annual exams allow your eye doctor to detect the earliest microscopic changes, long before you notice vision problems.

What Tests Does Your Eye Doctor Need to Perform?

Plaquenil screening requires specialized retinal testing, not just a standard vision check.

This may include: Dilated Eye Exam, Visual Field Test (10-2 or 24-2), further tests with Fundus Autofluorescence (FAF) or Optical Coherence Tomography. Electroretinograms can be used to highlight metabolic retinal stress or damage

Not every patient needs every test at every visit, but testing beyond vision & eyeglasses is needed

What Happens If Changes Are Found?

If early signs of toxicity are detected:

• Tacoma Eye will communicate with your prescribing physician, and we can provide YOU a copy upon request
• Your prescribing Physician may say the medication dosage may be adjusted or discontinued
• Patients should never stop Plaquenil without consulting their prescribing doctor.

The Bottom Line

Plaquenil is a valuable and often necessary medication, but protecting your vision requires partnership between you, your prescribing doctor, and your eye doctor.

✔ Vision changes often occur without symptoms
✔ Specialized retinal testing can catch problems early
✔ Annual eye exams help protect lifelong vision

If you are taking Plaquenil, make sure your eye exams are with competent eye doctors who know how to evaluate you -and don’t skip your yearly visit.

Your eyes depend on it. 👁️ Make an appt today