Chemotherapy AC Side Effects on Eyes

AC is a chemotherapy treatment used to treat breast cancer. Made up of a combination of adriamycin and cyclophosphamide, AC chemotherapy is often used to help prevent cancer from coming back after previous treatment like surgery or radiation. But it can also be used before surgery, especially if cancer cells are found in the lymph nodes of the armpit. AC is not without its side effects. AC can take a toll on the human body, including the patient's eyes.

History

• Ophthalmologic side effects from chemotherapy are still fairly uncommon. However, as patients undergo longer and more aggressive treatment, side effects have started to appear.

Causes

• Chemotherapeutic drugs can cause all sorts of side effects. The drugs are toxic and are meant to kill cancerous cells, but can harm the body. Adriamycin, also known as doxorubicin, and cyclophosphamide affect the eyes in different ways. Overall, some ocular symptoms are more common than others, but there is no telling what symptoms, if any, a patient may have.

Side Effects

• Ocular side effects from AC chemotherapy can take a few different forms. Sometimes a patient's eyes can tear up, while other patients may find themselves with sore eyes. These side effects are generally associated with adriamycin. A more well-known ocular side effect is conjunctivitis, commonly known as pink eye. Side effects from the drug cyclophoshamide are rarer, but in some cases can cause blurred vision or blepharoconjunctivitis, a form of conjunctivitis that includes inflammation of the eyelids.

Treatment

• Conjunctivitis can be treated with eye drops that are used to reduce the soreness and itchiness. Since chemotherapy patients generally have a lower white blood cell count, a doctor may prescribe an antibiotic to help fight the infection. Any side effect should be examined by a doctor familiar with the patient's treatment protocol.

Prevention

• While ocular side effects from AC chemotherapy are mostly temporary, they can still cause patients noticeable discomfort during treatment. Unfortunately, there is no way to prevent the onslaught of such symptoms. A patient's best bet is to quickly inform his or her doctor about any side effects and come up with a course or treatment.