Hydroxychloroquine Eye Monitoring Service - Patient Information
The Hydroxychloroquine and Chloroquine Eye Monitoring Service is provided by Paragon Clinic, an eye care clinic based in Shrewsbury, on behalf of the local NHS for Shropshire, Telford & Wrekin patients.
Hydroxychloroquine and Chloroquine are types of medicine that can be used to reduce swelling (inflammation), pain and stiffness of joints, and can improve or clear up some skin conditions. Although these drugs are very safe and effective, like all medicines these can cause side effects. Some people who take Hydroxychloroquine for many years and/or in high doses are at an increased risk of damage to their retina and regular eye monitoring can detect these changes early. If you meet the criteria for the monitoring service, then your GP or Rheumatology consultant will refer you to this service.
Please click on the headings below for further information or read this leaflet on the Hydroxychloroquine and Chloroquine Eye Monitoring Service:
The hydroxychloroquine (HCQ) eye monitoring service is provided by Paragon Clinic, an eye care clinic based in Shrewsbury, on behalf of the NHS in Shropshire, Telford and Wrekin.
Hydroxychloroquine is a type of medicine used to treat inflammatory conditions, including rheumatoid arthritis, juvenile idiopathic arthritis (inflammation of joints in children) and lupus. It's also used to treat some skin conditions. Sometimes chloroquine is used instead of hydroxychloroquine. These medicines reduce swelling (inflammation), pain and stiffness of joints, and can improve or clear up some skin conditions.
Hydroxychloroquine is a very safe and effective drug but, like all medicines, it can cause side effects, although not everyone gets them. To find out more go to www.nhs.uk/medicines/hydroxychloroquine/ Some people who take hydroxychloroquine for many years and/or in high doses are at an increased risk of damage to their retina. The retina is the light sensitive layer of cells at the back of the eye. Regular eye monitoring can detect these changes early to prevent permanent damage to vision (Chloroquine has similar side-effects).
It is recommended you attend eye monitoring every year if you are aged over 12 years and meet one or more of the following criteria:
- You have been on hydroxychloroquine for over five years.
- You have been on hydroxychloroquine for one year but at a higher dose.
- You have been on hydroxychloroquine for one year but also on tamoxifen.
- You have been on hydroxychloroquine for one year and you have kidney disease.
- You have been on chloroquine for over one year.
If you meet the above criteria for monitoring, then your GP or Rheumatology consultant would have referred you to the service. You will be invited by email, telephone, or letter to attend your eye monitoring appointment. Your appointment will be at Paragon Clinic, Bank Farm Road, Shrewsbury SY3 6DU. If you have not been referred, then please ask your GP or Rheumatology consultant to check if you need to be referred.
On arrival at the Paragon Clinic, a member of staff will ask you some questions about your hydroxychloroquine treatment and about your health in general. They will then test your eye health and vision and take a scan of each eye. These tests are very easy and painless. The appointment will take about 30 minutes to 1 hour. You won’t receive eye drops that dilate your pupils so you can drive straight after your appointment. Occasionally, we may ask you to return for further tests which do require dilating drops. The drops take two hours to wear off.