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Changes to your vision or hearing can be caused by certain cancer treatments, including specific chemotherapy and targeted therapy drugs. These changes can make daily activities more difficult or frustrating, but there are treatments and self-care measures that can help protect your senses and keep you comfortable.

You may notice:

  • Blurry or cloudy vision
  • Dry, gritty, or watery eyes
  • Sensitivity to bright light
  • Red or sore eyes
  • Ringing or buzzing in your ears (tinnitus)
  • Muffled hearing or difficulty following conversations in noisy places
  • Dizziness or feeling unsteady on your feet

Self-Management Tips

There are several things you can do to help reduce discomfort and manage these changes:

  1. Keep your eyes comfortable

Use artificial tears or lubricating eye drops if your eyes feel dry or gritty (your pharmacy or cancer team can recommend a suitable brand).

Avoid rubbing your eyes, as this can cause irritation or infection.

Take regular breaks from reading, watching TV, or looking at phone screens to rest your eyes.

  1. Protect your eyes from light and air

Wear sunglasses or a wide-brimmed hat when outside if you have become sensitive to bright light.

Avoid sitting directly in front of fans or air conditioning units, as the moving air can dry your eyes out further.

  1. Managing tinnitus and hearing difficulties

Consider arranging a hearing test to check your hearing levels.

If you are experiencing ringing in your ears (tinnitus), playing soft background music, a fan, or white noise can help mask the sound and make it easier to sleep at night.

Reduce background noise, such as turning off the TV or radio, when you are having a conversation.

Let your friends and family know if your hearing is affected so they can face you directly and speak a little more clearly.

  1. Managing dizziness and imbalance

If you feel dizzy or off-balance, take your time when standing up from a chair or getting out of bed. Consider turning on a light when getting out of bed at night so you can see better.

Please see Balance and Dizziness pages for more information and advice.

General advice

Driving: Do not drive or operate heavy machinery if your vision is blurry, if your field of vision is restricted, or if you have sudden and unprovoked or unprecipitated episodes of disabling dizziness

Eye and ear tests: Ensure you attend any recommended check-ups with an optician or audiologist.

Keep your team informed: Always let your cancer team know about any new changes to your senses, as they may need to monitor your symptoms, adjust your treatment, or refer you to a specialist.

 

When to contact your healthcare team

Seek urgent advice if:

  • You experience a sudden loss of vision or a sudden loss of hearing.
  • You have severe or worsening pain in your eye or ear.
  • You notice signs of an eye infection, such as sticky, yellow, or green discharge.
  • You suddenly see new flashing lights, a sudden increase in ‘floaters’, or a dark shadow/curtain across your vision.
  • Your dizziness is severe, affecting your safety, or causing you to fall.

 

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