This information explains how to care for your eyes during your treatment with tisotumab (tye-SOT-uh-mab) at MSK.
Tisotumab is a medication used to treat cervical cancer. It can cause corneal changes (changes in the surface of your eyes). This can lead to:
- Dry eyes.
- Eye redness.
- Eye irritation.
- Corneal ulcers (sores on the surface of your eye). They can lead to vision loss.
- Blurred vision.
- Changes in your need for glasses.
These eye problems can be serious. If you start to have vision changes or eye problems during your treatment, tell your MSK care team, your eye specialist, or both. If you already have vision changes or eye problems, tell them if they get worse.
Getting Ready for Your Treatment
Tisotumab is given as a series of infusions. An infusion is when a medication is put into your vein slowly over a period of time. You will have an intravenous (IV) line placed for your infusions.
You will need to do the following things to get ready for your first tisotumab infusion.
Visit an eye specialist
Your MSK healthcare provider will refer you to an eye specialist. The eye specialist will check your eyes to make sure it’s safe for you to start treatment.
You must also visit the eye specialist:
- Before each of your tisotumab infusions.
- If you start having eye problems.
- If your eye problems are getting worse.
Once you start treatment, do not wear contact lenses unless your eye specialist tells you to. A member of your care team will tell you when it’s safe to start wearing them again.
Pick up prescription eye drops
Your healthcare provider will prescribe 3 types of eye drops.
- Vasoconstrictor (brimonidine) eye drops. These make the blood vessels in your eyes tighten (constrict). This helps limit side effects in your eyes.
- Steroid (dexamethasone) eye drops. These help reduce inflammation (such as redness ) and irritation in your eyes.
- Lubricating eye drops (preservative-free artificial tears). These help add moisture to your eyes. This helps prevent and manage eye irritation and dryness.
These eye drops will help lower your risk of having eye problems during your treatment. Follow your healthcare provider’s instructions for using them. Bring your eye drops to each of your tisotumab infusion appointments.
Buy cooling eye masks
Buy 3 cooling eye masks to use during your tisotumab infusions. You can find them online or at your local supermarket or pharmacy. The masks must cover your eyes completely. Do not buy masks with eye holes (see Figure 1).
If you can’t buy cooling eye masks, you can use a bag with ice instead. We will give you one during your infusion appointments.
Figure 1. Buy a mask that covers your eyes completely
During Your Treatment
Starting the day of your first tisotumab infusion:
- Use your lubricating eye drops every day, as often as you need to. Follow the instructions on the bottle. Keep using them for 30 days after your last tisotumab infusion.
- If you notice any vision changes, tell your MSK care team, your eye specialist, or both.
- Keep track of your eye drops so you do not run out. If you’re getting close to running out, tell your healthcare provider. They will refill your prescription.
The day of each tisotumab infusion
Bring the following things to every one of your infusion appointments:
- Your vasoconstrictor eye drops.
- Your steroid eye drops.
- Your lubricating eye drops.
If you do not bring all these things to your appointment, you will not be able to get your tisotumab infusion.
If you bought cooling eye masks, remember to bring those too. You will need to cool them at home in your freezer. Bring them to your tisotumab infusion appointments in a small cooler (such as an insulated lunch box) filled with frozen ice packs. If you do not have a small cooler or ice packs, buy them before your first infusion appointment.
Before your infusion
- Put a cooling eye mask or bag of ice over your eyes about 10 minutes before your infusion starts.
- Use your vasoconstrictor eye drops just before your infusion starts. Put 3 drops in each eye. Your nurse will help you.
- Use your steroid eye drops just before your infusion starts. Put 1 drop in each eye. Your nurse will help you.
If your healthcare provider gives you other instructions, follow those instead.
During your infusion
- Keep a cooling eye mask or bag of ice over your eyes during your whole infusion. When one starts to get to room temperature or melt, switch it out for another one.
After your infusion
- Keep a cooling eye mask or bag of ice over your eyes for about 20 minutes after your infusion is finished.
- Use your steroid eye drops 2 more times over the rest of the day, a few hours apart. Each time, put 1 drop in each eye.
- Use your lubricating eye drops as often as you need to. Wait 5 minutes between using the steroid drops and lubricating drops.
If your healthcare provider gives you other instructions, follow those instead.
The day after each tisotumab infusion
- Use your steroid eye drops 3 times today, several hours apart. For example, you could use them in the morning, around noon, and in the evening. Each time, put 1 drop in each eye.
- Use your lubricating eye drops as often as you need to. Wait 5 minutes between using the steroid drops and the lubricating drops.
If your healthcare provider gives you other instructions, follow those instead.
2 days after each tisotumab infusion
- Use your steroid eye drops 3 times today (morning, noon, and evening). Each time, put 1 drop in each eye.
- Use your lubricating eye drops as often as you need to. Wait 5 minutes between using the steroid drops and the lubricating drops.
If your healthcare provider gives you other instructions, follow those instead.
Between your tisotumab infusions
Keep using your lubricating eye drops as often as you need to.
Most people have a tisotumab infusion about every 3 weeks. You’ll visit an eye specialist within 7 days before each of your infusions. They’ll check your eyes and help you manage any problems you’re having. If you do not visit the eye specialist before each of your tisotumab infusions, you will not be able to get the infusion.
Remember to also tell your MSK care team, your eye specialist, or both if you start having eye problems. Also tell them if your eye problems are getting worse.
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