With all the news about people trying to get ivermectin as a potential treatment for COVID-19, many folks are rushing to their local livestock suppliers to pick up the over the counter stuff that is meant for horses and other large animals. Ivermectin is meant to treat parasites, such as worms, and is safely used in humans in pill form that is safely measured out for humans of normal size.
Ivermectin purchased in for horses though is a much high concentrations. Horses weigh far more than humans and therefore will require higher dosages to get an effective result.
So what’s the problem here?
Well with people rushing for the livestock version and taking it without any input from a human doctor, they’re potentially overdosing themselves on the medication. This relates to us because ivermectin can cause vision problems and if I am able to prevent even one person from having vision loss related to overdosing on the stuff, then I’ll consider that a win.
So what are the possible eye related side effects?
- Eyelid Swelling
- Conjunctivitis (aka when your eye turns red)
- Iritis (inflammation of the iris, causes light sensitivity, decreased vision)
- Keratitis (inflammation of the cornea, also causes decreased vision and light sensitivity)
- Chorioretinitis (inflammation of the retina, very serious and may require IV medications or
injection into the eye of medication to treat)
So the thought I want to pose to anyone considering taking this is this: Is taking an unproven, highly suspicious dosage of a medication that is not meant for human consumption to treat a disease that already has an effective and safe preventative measure to possibly cause vision loss worth it? What are your eyes and your vision worth to you?
I’d like to think we value our vision and eye health far more than that.