Plaquenil eye check

[Skylar]

I've been off Plaquenil for more than a year now - my rheumatologist took me off it because I'd been on it for so long that there was  risk of retinal toxicity.

I got the usual plaquenil testing twice a year from my ophthalmologist. When I pointed out to my ophthalmologist at my recent visit that I had stopped the Plaquenil, he did a routine eye exam and said I didn't need the functional testing. He said that the only thing they would do if they found changes was to stop Plaquenil. Since I was no longer taking it, there was no need to do further tests. He did show me how using a sheet of graph paper and staring in to the center works to crudely test any changes - if the squares on the outer edge appear to be rounded and not square, it indicates a problem and to come back for further testing.

Has anyone here gotten off Plaquenil and did your ophthalmologist stop testing?

[Alex]

Hey Skylar,
Did Plaquenil help in any way?
I dont see reason for testing eyes if u stopped plaquenil.

[Skylar]

Hey Skylar,
Did Plaquenil help in any way?
I dont see reason for testing eyes if u stopped plaquenil.

Hi Alex,

It's frustrating because I was never completely sure. When you have an infection and take the right antibiotic you start to feel better within a day. You know that the medication worked once you are free of the infection. With Plaquenil I thought it was helping, but I still developed new Autoimmune Diseases while taking it - I think it soften the flares, made them not quite as bad. I was happy to take it because I didn't have any side effects. I thought of all the choices and medications I've taken it was one of the safer ones.

Are you taking it?