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Drugs Which Can Affect
Near Vision: A Useful List

Joanne L. Smith B.Sc., Ph.Phm.*
J. Raymond Buncic, M.D., F.R.C.S.(C)t
This paper documents a list of drugs that cause problems with near vision, by virtue of effects on accommodation, occasionally refractive error and diplopia. It is meant as a reference aid to the clinician when confronted with problems of focusing on near objects or print. There are many drugs that have been reported to interfere with near or reading vision, producing blurring, decreased accommodation and diplopia. This paper lists the drugs that have been reported in the literature to produce symptoms which interfere with near vision. Case reports for the listed drugs vary greatly from many to few. The drugs have been divided into the following categories: those causing (A) blurring at near, (B) diplopia and (C) induced myopia. Those drugs which only rarely cause these symptoms have been omitted. From the Departments of Pharmacy* and Ophthalmologyt, The Hospital For Sick Children, Toronto, Ontario, Canada Requests for reprints should be addressed to: Dr. J. Raymond Buncic, Department of Ophthalmology, The Hospital For Sick Children, 555 University Ave., Toronto, Ontario, Canada M5G lX8 DRUGS COMMONLY CAUSING DIFFICULTY WITH FOCUSING AT NEAR OR BLURRED VISION. DRUGS WHICH LESS COMMONLY CAUSE DIFFICULTY WITH TABLE 2 CONT.
DRUGS WHICH LESS COMMONLY CAUSE DIFFICULTY WITH
DIPLOPIA: LESS COMMON DRUG CAUSES.
CILIARY BODY CONTRACTION OR LENS HYDRATION Note: These lists are not all inclusive. Some drugs which have been reported to cause blurred vision, myopia or diplopia were omitted because they are rarely used in clinical practice. REFERENCES 1. Pavan-Langston D, Dunkel EC: Handbook of Ocular Drug Therapy and Ocular Side Effects of Drugs. Toronto: Little, Brown and Company, 1991. Davies DM (ed): Textbook of Adverse Drug Reactions, 4th ed. New York: Oxford University Press, 1991. Anon. Ocular adverse effects of systemic therapy: minimizing the risks. Drugs Ther Perspectiues 1994; 3:1416. 5. Johnston L: Ocular toxicity-of systemic drugs.On Continuing Practice 1988; 15(3):2-6. 6. DiPiro JT, Talbert RL, Yee GC et al. (eds): Pharmacotherapy. A Pathophysiologic Approach. 3rd ed. Stamford, CT: Appleton & Lange, 1997. Harrison RJ: Ocular adverse reactions to systemic drug therapy. Adverse Drug Reaction Bulletin 1996; 180:683-6. 8. Baker SJ, Messini AJ: Blurred vision and psychotropics. Aust J Hosp Pharm 1995; 25:47-8. 9. Oshika T: Ocular adverse effects of neuropsychiatric agents. Incidence and management. Drug Safety 1995; 12:256-63. 10. Young LY, Koda-Kimble MA (eds): Applied Therapeutics: The Clinical Use of Drugs, 6th ed. Vancouver, WA: Applied Therapeutics Inc, 1995. 11. Kastrup EK, Hebel SK (eds): Drug Facts and Comparisons, 1998 Edition. St. Louis: Facts and Comparisons, 1998. Drug-Induced Ocular Side Effects and Drug Interactions, 3rd ed. Philadelphia: Lea & Febiger, 1989; pp. 494-580. McEvoy GK (ed): AHFS 98 Drug Information & Gillis MC (ed): Compendium of Pharmaceuticals and Specialties. 33rd ed. Ottawa: Canadian Pharmacists Association, 1998. Key words: drug side effects, blurred vision, diplopia, myopia.

Source: http://uwpress.wisc.edu/journals/pdfs/AOJ_49_178.pdf