All medicines carry some form of risk for side effects, but patients taking amiodarone or thinking about using it should be aware of the dangers of blurred vision. This medicine has been associated with a condition known as optic neuropathy, which can impair vision.

If this condition is left unchecked, it can develop into permanent visual loss. Some reports show that this condition will usually develop in a patient within 12 months after that person has started taking amiodarone. Any changes in eyesight, including blurred vision from amiodarone, should be taken seriously by a patient and reported to a doctor right away.

Unfortunately, the number of reports made by patients who have taken amiodarone and had ocular conditions or side effects develop has been on the rise, prompting some of them to be concerned about long-term impacts. Some claim they did not know about the severity of these side effects prior to taking the medicine.

What is optic neuropathy?

This condition can be characterized by new or worsening visual symptoms that happen while taking amiodarone. Any patient who is experiencing these issues might initially report their concerns to their primary doctor and then get a referral for assessment with an ophthalmology specialist.

Optic neuropathy includes symptoms like problems with visual fields, pupillary defects, decreased color vision, and decreased visual acuity. A clear sign that this condition has been induced by use of amiodarone is that if the patient stops taking the medicine, the underlying condition improves shortly thereafter.

What is Amiodarone?

Amiodarone is a prescription drug provided to patients who have been diagnosed with life-threatening ventricular arrhythmias and who are unable to find a less potent medication that helps them. Generically known as amiodarone, the drug is sold under brand names Cordarone, Pacerone and Nexterone in the U.S.

In a class of drugs known as anti-arrhythmics, amiodarone controls regulates irregular heartbeats by relaxing the muscles in the heart that tend to be overactive.

Still, amiodarone may cause an irregular heart rhythm to become worse, and may cause other serious side effects in addition to blurred vision.

The FDA reports two to five percent of patients may experience a ventricular arrhythmia that is less well-tolerated or harder to reverse. Even though this side effect is not any more frequent than seen with other anti-arrhythmics, the side effects last longer due to amiodarone taking months to be completely metabolized and excreted from the body.

According to MedlinePlus, amiodarone may actually damage the lungs to the point the patient’s life could be in danger. Symptoms of serious lung issues include fever, wheezing, short of breath, coughing or spitting up blood.

The FDA says that life-threatening lung ailments include pulmonary toxicity, also known as hypersensitivity pneumonitis, and is fatal in about 10 percent of all cases.

Amiodarone also has been linked to an increased risk of liver failure. Patients with acute liver failure are most often placed in the intensive care unit at the nearest hospital where they can receive IV fluids and in worse cases, blood transfusions.

What are the vision issues linked to Amiodarone?

There are a few indications that an individual patient is experiencing a reaction to amiodarone. When these side effects impact the eyes, a patient should recognize the dangers for progressive eyesight issues.

In general, amiodarone can cause the patient’s eyes to get dry. An eye lubrication solution can address the mild forms of this condition. However, if blurred vision, halos around objects, or the eyes become sensitive to light while taking the drug, these are moderate to severe amiodarone side effects that carry higher levels of risks according to The Mayo Clinic.

Are there other serious amiodarone symptoms?

A number of different symptoms have been reported by those patients taking amiodarone. In addition to reduced visual acuity, these include lung problems, heart concerns, allergic reactions, stomach problems, and thyroid issues.

How does a doctor examine blurred vision?

Certain eye issues will be spotted by a professional when the patient complains of blurred vision and shares that they have been taking amiodarone. Most patients will present with no visual symptoms when experiencing this problem, but will have deal with halos or blurriness.

Doctors might use a tool known as a slip lamp to spot problems that cannot be seen with the naked eye. Some patients might have curved golden brown or whitish-gray lines that begin in the center of the cornea. The deposits seen on the eye are usually indicative of amiodarone use, but the doctor should warn the patient about more severe vision loss if the issue is already advanced.