Differentiating Urgent vs. Non-Urgent Ocular AEs in ADC-Treated Patients

In this segment, the expert faculty examines how clinicians can distinguish between ocular adverse events (AEs) requiring urgent ophthalmologic intervention and those manageable with supportive care in patients receiving antibody–drug conjugates (ADCs). They emphasize the importance of symptom severity—particularly persistent vision changes, photophobia, or lack of improvement with preservative-free artificial tears or steroid drops—as the primary indicator that supportive care alone is insufficient. They highlight the critical role of standardized ophthalmology reporting forms, which guide eye-care providers through ADC-specific assessments and translate findings into actionable information for oncologists.

The panel notes that timely communication between oncology and ophthalmology allows high-risk patients to be added urgently to clinic schedules, despite the heavy volume many ophthalmologists manage. They also underscore that dose holds or reductions frequently lead to rapid resolution of corneal changes due to the eye’s regenerative capacity. Importantly, they reassure clinicians that dose adjustments rarely compromise anticancer efficacy, reinforcing the value of early detection and collaborative management.