Eye testing for plaquenil damage

[Deb 27]

So, has an eye Dr ever mentioned an OTC test for your eyes as a more sensitive check for plaquenil damage? This is new to me. Never had an eye Dr. mention it before. This was a new Drs office and it's pretty huge, maybe they have the technology there, so they are going to use it. If it detects something sooner rather than later, it's ok for me. I'm just hoping the darn co-pay won't be too expensive. We'll save money when I go on Medicare but that's a few years away.

I hate eye exams, the lights are really torture but I am glad it's over with.

[Sooki]

By OTC, do you mean a test you can buy at a pharmacy and not go into the doctor's office?

[Pete0211]

OCT is Optical Coherence Tomography. It is basically provides a really high resolution scan of your retina.

[Jasper]

The OCT is the most advanced test for checking the eyes for any possible early Plaquenil toxicity damage.

My opthamologist orders an OCT every year and I have had one every year since starting Plaquenil in 2013. He also orders other tests to be done at the same visit.

My insurance pays for all of the tests.

[Deb 27]

Oops, I guess I got it a little backwards with the letters. Thanks for letting us know Jasper and Pete! I am glad others know about this and are having it done. Before now, nobody has said word one to me about it.

[Pete0211]

No worries Deb - as you can see in my post, I had to edit it to correct "OTC" too

[Nymph]

Yes, I had an OCT as a baseline when I first started plaquenil in 2012. My opthalmologist said that I would not need another one until 2017, and then yearly thereafter. So this is the year when I get one again. Fingers crossed! I do not EVER want to go off of plaquenil unless I am cured!   

[Cricket]

How do they do that test?

[Nymph]

It's just a complex picture of your eyeball. You just stick your face in the machine and hold very still and it scans away.