Changes in your eyesight

Nasopharyngeal cancer and its treatment can cause eyesight changes in some people. These changes can be difficult to cope with but there is support available to help you.

Possible changes

One symptom of nasopharyngeal cancer is double vision. This often improves after treatment with radiotherapy and chemotherapy. The more advanced the cancer, the more likely it is to affect your sight. Nasopharyngeal cancer can sometimes spread to:

• the nerve that controls eye movement
• the eye
• tissue surrounding the eye

Radiotherapy Treatment

Radiotherapy to the nasopharynx might affect your sight. This can happen months or sometimes years after treatment. Let your healthcare team know about any changes to your sight as soon as this happens. 

Other changes 

You might have other changes in your vision. For example, blurred or patchy vision, or you might completely lose the sight in one eye. But this is rare.

Eye check ups

If you have had any changes in your vision, you will usually have regular check ups with an eye specialist.

This may be every 6 months or less, often depending on how much your sight is affected. Your cancer specialist will arrange your eye check ups during your follow up.

Coping with sight changes

Coping practically 

Cancer that has affected only one eye can cause problems with vision because the sight in your remaining eye might not be perfect.

A change in how well you see can have an impact on your ability to read, drive, work and get around. But there is a lot of support available for people with visual problems, and this can make your life a lot easier.

What type of help you need will depend on how your vision has been affected.

Coping emotionally 

Losing some or all of your sight can be very distressing and can have a big effect on your life. As well as dealing with the practical problems, you might have to cope with feelings of anger, low self esteem and sadness.

You might feel that you are less attractive to your partner, and worry about your sexual relationship.

It often helps to talk to the people close to you about how you feel. Or you might prefer to talk to someone who doesn't know you.

Many counsellors are experienced in talking to people who have lost some or all of their sight.

You can read more about coping with changes to your sight in our section about nasal and paranasal sinus cancer. There is information about help and support, aids for poor vision and registering as blind or partially sighted. 

Cancer Research UK nurses

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