Doctors are using exciting new medicines to treat ovarian and cervical cancer, but these drugs can sometimes cause eye problems like dry eyes, blurred vision, and cornea damage. This review looks at what we know about these eye side effects, why they happen, and how doctors can prevent and treat them. The good news is that with proper monitoring and care—like using eye drops, taking breaks from screens, and getting vaccinated against shingles—patients can often continue their cancer treatment safely while protecting their vision.
The Quick Take
- What they studied: How often eye problems happen in cancer patients taking new antibody-drug conjugate medicines, what causes these problems, and the best ways to prevent and treat them
- Who participated: This is a review of existing research, so it summarizes findings from many studies involving gynecologic cancer patients (mostly with ovarian and cervical cancer) who received newer cancer medications
- Key finding: New cancer drugs called antibody-drug conjugates can cause eye issues in a significant number of patients, but these problems can often be managed with preventive eye care and close monitoring
- What it means for you: If you’re taking these newer cancer medicines, talk to your doctor about eye care. Simple steps like using prescribed eye drops, protecting your eyes from irritation, and regular eye check-ups may help you avoid serious vision problems while getting the cancer treatment you need
The Research Details
This is a narrative review, which means doctors and researchers read through many published studies about eye problems from new cancer drugs and summarized what they learned. Rather than conducting one new experiment, the authors gathered information from existing research to create a comprehensive guide.
The review focused on two main cancer drugs: mirvetuximab soravtansine and tisotumab vedotin. These are newer medicines that work differently than traditional chemotherapy—they’re like smart bombs that target cancer cells more precisely. However, this precision comes with a trade-off: they can affect the eyes.
The authors looked at how often these eye problems occur, why they happen at the cellular level, what symptoms patients experience, and what treatments and prevention strategies work best based on current evidence.
This type of review is important because it helps doctors understand a pattern of side effects they’re seeing in their patients. When a new medicine is approved, doctors don’t always know all the ways it might affect the body. By reviewing all available research together, doctors can create better plans to protect patients’ vision while they’re fighting cancer. This helps patients stay on their life-saving medications without suffering unnecessary vision loss.
As a narrative review, this study summarizes expert knowledge but doesn’t present brand-new experimental data. The strength of the recommendations depends on the quality of the studies reviewed. The authors appear to have looked at clinical trial data and real-world patient experiences. Since this was published in a peer-reviewed medical journal, other experts have checked the work for accuracy. However, readers should know that some recommendations may be based on limited evidence, and more research is still needed to find the absolute best prevention and treatment strategies.
What the Results Show
The review found that eye problems are a real concern for patients taking these new cancer drugs. The most common eye issues include keratopathy (damage to the clear front part of the eye), blurred vision, and dry eye syndrome. These problems can range from mild irritation to more serious vision changes that affect daily life.
The good news is that doctors have identified several strategies that help prevent or reduce these eye problems. Using prescribed eye drops before and during treatment appears to be protective. Taking breaks from screens, wearing sunglasses, and keeping eyes moist are simple but effective measures. In some cases, doctors may need to delay treatment or reduce the dose if eye problems become severe, but this is often temporary.
The review also highlighted that getting vaccinated against herpes zoster (shingles) may help prevent eye complications, since shingles can affect the eyes. This is an important preventive step that patients should discuss with their doctors.
Overall, the research suggests that while these eye side effects are real, they can usually be managed effectively with a combination of prevention and careful monitoring.
The review noted that the severity of eye problems varies from person to person. Some patients experience only mild dryness, while others have more significant vision changes. The timing of eye problems also varies—some appear early in treatment while others develop later. Understanding these patterns helps doctors know when to watch most carefully and which patients might need extra eye care support.
These newer cancer drugs represent an improvement over traditional chemotherapy in many ways, but they introduced a new type of side effect that doctors weren’t as familiar with initially. This review brings together what we’ve learned from recent clinical trials and patient experiences to create a more complete picture. It shows that while these eye problems are a trade-off, they’re manageable—unlike some side effects that force patients to stop treatment entirely.
This review summarizes existing research rather than conducting new experiments, so the strength of recommendations depends on the quality of studies already published. Some eye problems from these drugs are still relatively new to medicine, so long-term effects aren’t completely understood yet. The review also notes that more research is needed to find the absolute best ways to prevent and treat these eye issues. Additionally, different patients may respond differently to prevention and treatment strategies, so what works for one person might not work exactly the same for another.
The Bottom Line
If you’re taking these newer cancer drugs (mirvetuximab soravtansine or tisotumab vedotin), work closely with your cancer doctor and eye doctor to monitor your vision. Use prescribed eye drops regularly, even if your eyes feel fine—prevention is easier than treatment. Wear sunglasses outdoors, take regular breaks from screens, and report any vision changes immediately. Ask your doctor about shingles vaccination if you haven’t had it. These steps are supported by current medical evidence and can significantly reduce eye problems. Confidence level: Moderate to High for prevention strategies; Moderate for specific treatment protocols since more research is ongoing.
This information is most important for people with ovarian or cervical cancer who are considering or currently taking these newer antibody-drug conjugate medicines. Their family members and caregivers should also understand these potential side effects. Eye care professionals (optometrists and ophthalmologists) should be aware of these risks so they can monitor patients appropriately. People taking other types of cancer drugs should discuss with their doctors whether similar eye precautions apply to their medications.
Eye problems can appear at different times—some within the first few weeks of treatment, others after several months. Prevention strategies should start before or at the beginning of treatment. If problems do develop, they often improve within weeks to months after starting preventive care or adjusting treatment. However, some vision changes may take longer to resolve. Patients should expect ongoing monitoring throughout their treatment and for some time after.
Want to Apply This Research?
- Track daily eye symptoms using a simple 1-10 scale: dryness level, blurred vision episodes, eye discomfort, and redness. Note when symptoms occur (morning, evening, after screen time) and what helps (eye drops, rest, sunglasses). Record this daily or every other day to share patterns with your doctor.
- Set phone reminders to use prescribed eye drops at the same times each day (morning and evening). Create a habit of wearing sunglasses when outdoors and taking a 20-20-20 break (every 20 minutes, look at something 20 feet away for 20 seconds) during screen time. Log these preventive actions in the app to build consistency.
- Use the app to schedule and track monthly eye doctor appointments. Set reminders for vaccination status checks. Create a visual chart showing symptom trends over time to discuss with your medical team. Flag any sudden vision changes for immediate reporting to your doctor. This long-term tracking helps identify patterns and shows whether prevention strategies are working.
This article summarizes medical research about eye problems from certain cancer medications. It is not a substitute for professional medical advice. If you are taking cancer medications and experience any vision changes, eye discomfort, or other symptoms, contact your doctor or eye care specialist immediately. Do not stop taking prescribed cancer medications without talking to your oncologist first. Treatment decisions should always be made in consultation with your healthcare team, who understand your complete medical situation. This information is for educational purposes and should not be used for self-diagnosis or self-treatment.