Ocular side effects of chemotherapy: nursing management

Ocular side effects may be unfamiliar to oncology nurses but are important because of their potentially devastating effects on vision. Presently, more than 20 chemotherapy agents have been reported to cause eye toxicities. Chemotherapy-induced ocular side effects can be manifested on a range of minor, transient irritation to irreversible, complete blindness. This article reviews these ocular complications, their causative agents, their effect on eye structures and function, and nursing management. Oncology nurses can play a vital role in the identification of symptoms and in the management of these eye complications.