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Hep C Discussion Forum -> On Treatment -> Baseline eye exam
Post Info TOPIC: Baseline eye exam
hepcat60


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RE: Baseline eye exam
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I had a baseline exam prior to treatment.  At roughly 12 weeks, I complained of blurriness and they immediately scheduled an exam.  Turned out to be nothing.  He diagnosed Dry Eye Syndrome and gave me some  drops so my insurance would cover the exam.



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Hep C 1a since probably 1981.  Incivek, riba and interferon-48 weeks.  UND at weeks 2-4-6-8-10-12-16-20-24.  Previously Interferon alone for 6 months non-responder.  SVR 48 weeks 12/11/14
mallani


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Hi Brendalee,

If you're having vision problems I would get it checked out ASAP. Peg is known to cause optic neuritis and should be treated straight away. Having had a previous exam for comparison is very useful. As Alan said, dry eyes are common, and are easily treated with lubricating eye drops. Cheers.



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Geno 1b, IL28B CT,  x3 prior relapser,  ex-cirrhotic, 75 yo, did 48 weeks with Victrelis/Peg./Riba.  VL 1.28m at start, UNDET. at 8 ,12 ,16 ,24 ,30  and 48 weeks.  EOT 15 Feb 2013 , UNDET. at EOT + 28 weeks. SVR!  Still Undet. at EOT +5 years

Malcolm
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All during treatment I had to use "artificial tears" during the night. I would wake up and my eyelids would literally be stuck to the eyeball. The drops helped immediately. I would usually do this twice a night. Now that treatment is one year in the past, I have a "floater" on my right eye that moves around even when the eye is still. It may be from one of several good falls on the ski slopes last winter. But I can't afford an eye doctor right now. Just too many medical related expenses. The ultrasounds, visits to the doctor's office, blood tests and the looming scoping of my esophagus for some sort of varices, plus a sigmoidoscopy to examine the Incivek related damage, I am tapped out.

Alan



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Geno 1A  Started Pegasys/Ribavirin/Incivek Nov. 20, 2011 .  Completed July 28, 2012 (36 weeks). For a treatment history, see:  https://jshare.johnshopkins.edu/xythoswfs/webview/_xy-9921874_1

SVR on January 14, 2013!!
Tig


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Hi, I can relate to the sleeplessness! I feel like I'm asleep but I'm aware of everything going on around me, sound familiar? Of course those rare times that I get to actually fall asleep, I've got a cat that will promptly hop up on the bed and decide that it's time for a good scratch! That's okay though, she's my buddy and keeps me company the rest of the time. I've also noticed some blurriness but I think a lot of that is due to my problem with dry eyes. I'm using an eye moisturizer so I'm trying to keep that under control. Thanks for getting in touch! Good luck with treatment! Take care!



-- Edited by Tig56 on Sunday 23rd of June 2013 02:02:38 AM

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Tig

68yo GT1A - 5 Mil - A2/F3 - (1996) Intron A - Non Responder, (2013) Peg/Riba/Vic SOT:05/23/13 EOT:12/04/13 SVR 9+ years!

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Brendalee333


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I am on triple therapy and have been having vision issues, nothing to the point where it has caused me problems with daily living though. My doctor wants me to get an eye exam now to compare it to my eye exam I had about 8 months ago. I Havent done so yet, im wondering if my vision is dues to my severe lack of sleep from the insomnia....not sure. Seems like its blurry even when I get sleep at times



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genotype 1a

Started treatment 4/12/13 with ribavirin and peg-intron. Started Victrelis 6/19/13. (triple therapy)
Tig


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Thank you for your information. I've got an appt. with my doc on Tuesday for my 4 week bloodwork results, I'll bring this to his attention then. I have to take my father in to see a retina specialist every three months, so I may see if I can get him to take a look while I'm there. Probably not a bad idea to keep track of their condition throughout treatment but I think I'm going to wait for any corrective treatment until after this is behind me. 



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Tig

68yo GT1A - 5 Mil - A2/F3 - (1996) Intron A - Non Responder, (2013) Peg/Riba/Vic SOT:05/23/13 EOT:12/04/13 SVR 9+ years!

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Biggyb


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My GI requested an exam,



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58 yo..Relapsed in 99 and again in 2004. Started triple therapy with Victrelis July 22,2012.  genotype 1a. week 8,12,16,24 VL Undetectable..E.O.T -- 6-22-2013,,,EOT + 24., UND. 

SVR !!!

 

~Bob~
mallani


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Dry eyes are common with triple Rx due to decreased lacrimal secretions. Use some lubricating eye drops, but try not to use ones that contain an antihistamine or vasoconstrictor (like Murine or Visine). Interferon may cause optic nerve neuritis, and having a baseline eye exam with charting of the visual fields is very useful. I had episodes of severe eye pain and saw an Opthalmologist 3 times while on Rx, but thankfully had no residual effects. If you do notice any change in vision while on Rx, get it checked out immediately, as Interferon may cause permanent visual field defects.



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Geno 1b, IL28B CT,  x3 prior relapser,  ex-cirrhotic, 75 yo, did 48 weeks with Victrelis/Peg./Riba.  VL 1.28m at start, UNDET. at 8 ,12 ,16 ,24 ,30  and 48 weeks.  EOT 15 Feb 2013 , UNDET. at EOT + 28 weeks. SVR!  Still Undet. at EOT +5 years

Malcolm
Tig


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I read that some required an eye exam before treatment and I read on some of the medication literature that you may experience some vision changes during the course of treatment. But the key word there is "may". My doc didn't require it and I'm curious how many of you did? I'm not going to because it seems that those that did experience some changes seem to all have returned to pre treatment vision after you either completed therapy or stopped. I had an exam last year, and wear glasses anyway, so having an exam now doesn't seem to be of any benefit because I certainly wouldn't spend the money for a new prescription, especially when my vision will likely do a dance while I'm on treatment and then return to what it was. Certainly if I were to have problems I would get in there faster than a rabbit in heat but I don't think spending alot of money on an exam that most likely will be of little benefit now is warranted. What say you all?



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Tig

68yo GT1A - 5 Mil - A2/F3 - (1996) Intron A - Non Responder, (2013) Peg/Riba/Vic SOT:05/23/13 EOT:12/04/13 SVR 9+ years!

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Dillo


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My Hepatologist had me get one before treatment. Also had me get one after Incivek treatment. He said I really didn't need to but he wanted to make sure the Interferon wasn't doing anything to them.

I had a lot of problems focusing and fog during Incivek treatment.



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GT 1a Started triple tx with Incivek, Pegasys, and Riba 2-6-2013. UND at 4,6,12,23,& 24 wks EOT 7-26-2013. Probably had Hep C for 20-30 years. Don't really know when I got it.

nurschic


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I am going to see if I can get into to get an eye exam from a walk-in place today. If I cant I will try again on Monday, but still will start my treatment tomorrow. I already have problems with my right eye anyways, so Im thinking it would be best to get things checked out.

Does anyone have problems with dry eye on triple therapy? I get corneal abrasions in my riht eye at night now cause my eye dries out while Im sleeping. Im wondering if treatment is going to make it worse hmm.



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Dx:2007; Genotype 1; VL 1.4mil, start triple therapy (peg/rib/inc) 6/2/13 (Failed), Harvoni 12 weeks EOT undetected, 6 month EOT UNDETECTED!
gatekeep


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Hi,yes I had that exam requirement and at the end of the Incevek I had foggy/ smokey vision it cleared up and after incevek.I had another exam, all was normal



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25 yrs HepC. type 1a geno. 6mill viral load,3.5 out of a 4 liver biop.started Sept.19, 2012,Tx.Rib.,Incivek, Peg,4wk. Vl 61,undetected @12 wks,undetec.Wk 24
Cinnamon Girl


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It`s probably not a bad idea to get one done if you can get an appointment.  Quite a few people report slight vision changes while on tx, which usually revert back to normal afterwards.  Tim`s eye problems were more severe, but luckily that`s a rare occurrence.



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Jill 

(71 yo, lives in UK)

Was Gen 3a, 

24wks Peg Ifn/Riba, Sep 2010 - Mch 2011

UND @ Wk.4, UND @ EOT, 

SVR Nov 2011 --> Still UND @ EOT + 4 yrs.

 

 
JIme


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Yea, I thought it was a requirement before starting tx.

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jim

GT1a, St2 Lv2 last biopsy 2002, VL  11.4m,  start triple tx 9/30/11

VL 470 @4wks.....VL 22,000 @8wks  stopped tx

Round 2-  Started 3/16/12   PSI-7977, BMS-790052, Riba Undetectable day 14

Did 24 weeks Still UND 12 weeks post tx, SVR24!!!!!!! 2/14/13

 

 

 

 

 
Biggyb


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My doc also had me get eye exam before treatment, but i am on the victrelis.



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58 yo..Relapsed in 99 and again in 2004. Started triple therapy with Victrelis July 22,2012.  genotype 1a. week 8,12,16,24 VL Undetectable..E.O.T -- 6-22-2013,,,EOT + 24., UND. 

SVR !!!

 

~Bob~
hrsetrdr


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Hi nurschic,   "hrsetrdr" AKA Tim here.   Yes, I had eye/vision change while on TX, sufficient to cause halt of treatment.

Here are the details:    

http://hepcfriends.activeboard.com/t50357172/worst-nightmare-forced-to-stop-treatment/



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"hrsetrdr"=Tim

Treatment halted on Aug.8,2012 due to vision problem.  6 month post tx labs

Aug.2013 SVR

Be strong when you are weak, brave when you are scared, and humble when you are victorious.
- Unknown

 

 
Matt Chris


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hey ranelle

You may want to contact a member named "hrsetrdr"  (Tim Thomas) as he had eye issues when on treatment so he may be able to shed some light on your question.

Matt 



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"And in the end, the love you take is equal to the love you make"

61 year old Geno type A1, F4 Cirrhotic, started 24 weeks on Harvoni 12-17-14 ,EOT-5 week = UND, 8-31-15 =UND , SVR-24 Baby YES! 
nurschic


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my Dr didn't say it was required. My usual eye Dr doesn't have any appointments available till July. Guess I will try to get in somewhere else tomorrow or Monday. Last time I was at my eye doctor was just a year and a half ago....... Shouldn't that be good?



-- Edited by nurschic on Saturday 1st of June 2013 02:27:34 AM

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Dx:2007; Genotype 1; VL 1.4mil, start triple therapy (peg/rib/inc) 6/2/13 (Failed), Harvoni 12 weeks EOT undetected, 6 month EOT UNDETECTED!
nurschic


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Did anyone on the incivek triple therapy get a baseline eye exam prior to starting the treatment? My GI Dr said that his partner just got back from a conference and they were recommending one prior to treatment. Has anyone on treatment have/had eye/vision changes during treatment?



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Dx:2007; Genotype 1; VL 1.4mil, start triple therapy (peg/rib/inc) 6/2/13 (Failed), Harvoni 12 weeks EOT undetected, 6 month EOT UNDETECTED!
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