Hydroxychloroquine (Plaquenil) Eye Screening
At a glance: if you take hydroxychloroquine, also known by the brand name Plaquenil, you need regular eye exams. In rare cases, the medicine can damage the retina before you notice any symptoms. Screening finds changes early.
Same medicine, two names
Most pharmacies now dispense generic hydroxychloroquine, so many patients never see the name Plaquenil on their bottle. Whichever name is on your label, the medicine and the eye screening are the same. It is prescribed for lupus, rheumatoid arthritis, Sjögren's and other autoimmune and inflammatory conditions.
Why screening matters
In a small number of people, hydroxychloroquine builds up in the retina over time and damages the cells around the center of vision. By the time vision changes are noticeable, the damage is permanent and can continue even after the medicine is stopped. Screening looks for the earliest signs, long before you would notice anything.
Your screening schedule
The American Academy of Ophthalmology recommends a baseline exam when you begin the medicine, then yearly screening after 5 years of use for people on a typical dose without major risk factors. Your eye doctor may check sooner if you have risk factors.
Risk factors to tell us about
- Taking more than 5 mg per kilogram of your real body weight each day
- Many years on the medicine
- Kidney disease
- Use of tamoxifen
The tests
Screening at Bolt Eye Group uses the two tests the Academy recommends: a visual field test, where you click a button when you see small flashes of light, and an OCT scan, a quick, painless photo of the retina's layers. We keep each year's results so we can compare them.
Before your visit
Bring the name and dose of your medicine, the date you started it, a list of your other medicines and your prescribing doctor's name. Please keep taking your medicine as prescribed unless your doctor tells you otherwise.
Common questions
My prescription says hydroxychloroquine, not Plaquenil. Is this page for me?
Yes. Hydroxychloroquine is the generic name and Plaquenil is the brand name. They are the same medicine and need the same eye screening.
How often do I need to be checked?
Following American Academy of Ophthalmology guidance, you should have a baseline exam when you start the medicine, then yearly screening once you have taken it for 5 years. If you have risk factors, your eye doctor may check every year from the start.
Will the screening tell my rheumatologist anything?
With your permission, we send your results to your prescribing doctor. Any decision about changing your dose is made between you and that doctor.
Bolt Eye Group sees patients in Canton, East Cobb (Marietta), Lawrenceville and Riverdale, Georgia, and Johnson City, Tennessee. Find your office and book online.