Prevent Vision Changes from Exemestane: What You Need to Know

When you're taking exemestane, a type of aromatase inhibitor used to treat hormone-receptor-positive breast cancer in postmenopausal women. It works by lowering estrogen levels, which helps slow cancer growth. But this same mechanism can affect other parts of your body — including your eyes. Some people on exemestane report blurred vision, dry eyes, or even sudden changes in sight. These aren’t common, but they’re real enough that ignoring them isn’t an option.

Vision changes from exemestane aren’t caused by direct damage to the eye. Instead, they’re linked to how your body handles fluids and hormones after estrogen drops. Lower estrogen can lead to thinner tear film, increased eye pressure, or even rare cases of retinal vein occlusion. You might not notice anything at first — until you struggle to read small print or see headlights clearly at night. If you’ve been on exemestane for months and suddenly feel like your vision is foggy, don’t brush it off. Talk to your oncologist and your eye doctor. They can check for early signs like dry eye syndrome or increased intraocular pressure before it becomes serious.

It’s not just about the drug itself — your overall health plays a role too. If you have diabetes, high blood pressure, or a history of glaucoma, your risk goes up. That’s why regular eye exams are part of smart care when you’re on aromatase inhibitors. You don’t need to stop exemestane unless your doctor says so. But you do need to stay alert. Simple habits help: use preservative-free artificial tears if your eyes feel gritty, avoid staring at screens for long stretches, and keep your blood sugar and blood pressure under control. Some patients switch to another aromatase inhibitor like anastrozole or letrozole if vision issues persist — but that decision needs to be made with your care team.

What you’ll find below are real patient experiences, clinical insights, and practical steps others have taken to protect their vision while staying on treatment. Some posts dive into how to spot early warning signs. Others compare exemestane with similar drugs and their eye-related side effect profiles. There’s even a guide on how to talk to your doctor about these symptoms without sounding alarmist. This isn’t about fear — it’s about awareness. Your eyes matter. And with the right info, you can keep seeing clearly while fighting cancer.