Medication Toxicity Screening & Monitoring

Certain medications may increase the risk of certain eye problems and your doctor may want to monitor you. Hydroxychloroquine (plaquenil) is one of the most common medications that is monitored for ocular toxicity. Hydroxychloroquine (plaquenil) is a medicine that is used primarily for preventing or treating malaria. However, it can also help treat inflammatory conditions such as lupus, rheumatoid arthritis and Sjögren’s syndrome. Using this medication for a long time can cause damage to the retina, which may lead to vision loss. However, it may not be identified until there is considerable loss of vision. Therefore, it is necessary that you visit an ophthalmologist regularly for evaluation. A plaquenil screening may include a visual field test, OCT imaging, multifocal ERG and photos of your eye. If there are any signs of damage to your retina, your ophthalmologist may ask you to consult with your physician to see if you should continue taking the drug.