Some new drugs pose risk to vision

Three immune drugs, Yervoy, Opdivo, and Keytruda, may require warning labels if the FDA decides that there are risks to eye health and vision.

Currently, the drugs list "uveitis" as a potential adverse effect, but the FDA has found additional complications including retinal detachment and vision loss in their post-marketing reviews of the drugs. A study which followed a patient whose advanced melanoma had been treated with Yervoy experienced significant vision loss caused by optic neuritis which has been reported among patients being treated with Yervoy. In addition, the patient experienced additional complications from the high-dose steroids that were then used to treat the adverse effects suffered from the Yervoy. The FDA is currently examining whether additional warnings need to be added to the immunotherapy drugs.