Question from Anonymous Caring.com community member
Is it true that temporary blindness is a side effect of chemo?
Expert Answer by Ernest Rosenbaum
Ernest Rosenbaum, MD, is an oncologist affiliated with Stanford University and with the Comprehensive Cancer Center at the University of California, San Francisco, where he has developed protocols for supportive care and clinical practices.
Yes, this is a rare side effect but unfortunately it does occur. Chemotherapy drugs are non-specific and affect many areas of the body, including the nervous system. They can damage the optic nerves, causing vision problems and even blindness. The damage is usually temporary and vision will return as the cells recover from the chemo.
Luckily, this is a rare side effect that few people experience. Those who already have vision problems are optic nerve weakness are more likely to suffer this side effect than those with no vision problems. Some chemotherapy drugs, such as vincristine, are more likely to cause this side effect than others. If you believe your chemotherapy is causing or contributing to blindness, speak to your doctor about it as soon as possible.
