Predisolone and cataracts

[Nanto4]

I have been told that i have the start of cataracts and the optician feels it could be the constant use and now everyday dose of steroids that has cobrributed to it .Has anyone else had this or similar .Thankyou

[Troilus]

I’ve had cataracts. My preventer inhaler was mentioned as a possible cause of their rapid growth. Removal was quick and simple with no problems. I had them done in a private place (part of the Specsavers Group - Newmedica?) because of long wait lists at the Eye Infirmary. ( It was quick and free)

[Ern007]

I have cataracts and for years took pred and have taken steroid inhalers for years. Anne (my wife) my mother and the lady I posted her paintings, all have cataracts or had them done. Point being none have touched steroids. My mother had bad COPD, she never got steroids , was treat mainly with Magnapen - Was an affective antibiotic. Steroids could be a cause but I was never told mine could be the cause,

[Yatzy]

Yes, I developed cataracts due to steroid use.

My optician said cataracts when caused by steroids are more circular, almost like circles within circles, while the misty bits making cataracts are more patchy and random if due to aging. These differences can only be seen with specialist equipment, symptoms are the same for both, and both types removed and replaced in exactly the same way. I was very pleased after I’d had my cataracts removed, very quick and very little inconvenience.

[Bemoresquirrel in reply to Yatzy]

That’s interesting, I had no idea that they were different. I have steroid induced cataracts too.

[Muldrew]

yes steroids can be a cause of cataracts

I had them in both eyes and this was mentioned as a cause as I am relatively young

But ofcourse I need the steroids as I have COPD

Procedure painless and v effective

Good luck

[Oldandgray]

yes. Within six months of starting a preventer inhaler I went from no cataracts, I had just had my eyes tested, to a full blown one in one eye and the start off one in the other eye. Luckily I had health insurance and had surgery straight away, contrary to what the NHS says they can be operated on at any stage.

[Kath65]

I was told at my last eye checkup that I had cataract in both eyes , I’ve been on prednisolone and inhalers for years , I have severe asthma and bronchiectasis. I’m due my next optician appointment in February and I know he’s going to encourage me to get the cataract surgery done as I am just at the legal limit for driving with my glasses on 🤓! Very scared at the thought of it though !!!

[Nanto4 in reply to Kath65]

Sounds the exact same as me ,im starting biologics on 29th jan as my asthma is still uncontrolled after years and years on inhalers and steroids , now they say its oesophenic asthma with narrow airway disease which could of been helped years ago .I spoke to a GP yesterday and she has referred me to be seen at the eye clinic to see if i need surgery or monitoring .

[Yatzy in reply to Kath65]

Don’t be scared, Kath. I was terrified to the point of thinking of running away when I got to the clinic….I had mine done at Spa Medica, a private clinic used by the NHS.

Fortunately they were running a bit late, and I fell into conversation with someone just coming out from his second op. He was waiting for a lift home, as you can’t drive immediately afterwards. Anyway this chap inspired me to feel very positive about it, he’d timed both ops, one was five mins from leaving the waiting area to coming back, other very similar. He said no pain at all or discomfort just a bit of apprehension and the rewards of seeing so much better so worth it.

He had been scared like me, but his wife went ahead with the op while he refused it. Her much improved sight, with only reading glasses needed afterwards, inspired him. He said how silly he felt being so scared initially. He said, you’ll be out before my lift arrives! My husband was sitting with him waiting and confirmed he’d left only moments before I returned to the waiting room.

He was right, and such an inspiration just at the right moment! Everyone I speak to says the same, really really not worth all the worry. I felt very protective about my eyes, but in the end, I needn’t have done.

I was apprehensive about lying flat and still, without coughing, for just five minutes. Clinic said in advance if I thought this would be impossible for me, I should swap to a hospital waiting list, two years where I lived, where techniques had been developed to deal with semi-upright position and use of a sedative. I said I would let them know!

I decided at home to test my asthma tendency to cough when lying flat. I set an alarm for ten mins and lay flat on my yoga mat. I found that as long as I said nothing while lying flat, I was perfectly fine for 20 mins and more. If I spoke, the coughing started. So I asked the clinic staff to only chat while I sat up on the edge of the bed, and that I wouldn’t be able to answer questions while flat. They agreed and were so helpful, put a pillow under my knees, and wafted oxygen gently across my face. None of these in my practice sessions at home!

So second time, I just gave same request, which was written down for staff, took my reliever inhaler half an hour or so before, just in case, and no problems at all for either operation. 😊😀

[JLMF in reply to Kath65]

Don’t worry , it should be a quick painless procedure

[Poobah]

Yes, at my last eye test I was told I had the start of cataracts in both eyes, but I have been on steroid inhalers for over 5 decades. I already have glaucoma because of one inhaler, now ditched, so have annual eye tests.

The take away advice from my optician - wear sunglasses on sunny days, and partially sunny days, as sunshine will make things worse, more quickly.

[Thomas45]

I had cataracts after years of steroid inhalers and pred use, as did many of my friends of the same age who didn't have steroids.I watched the operation on YouTube before my first pre -op appointment. I didn't have to wait long after that. I didn't lie flat for the procedure which took only minutes and didn't hurt.

The results of having artificial lenses is amazing.

After a few years the back of the natural pocket in which the lens sits started to thicken, distorting my vision in that eye. My optician referred me to the local hospital where the thickened lens holder was part removed by laser treatment. I was given one lot of eye drops to dilate the pupil. The laser treatment took about a minute and my sight was restored in that eye.

[Patk1]

Yes, I have. Also being in sunlight without protective sunglasses is a major contributory factor

[Anniecath]

I was diagnosed with cataracts which have both been sorted. The hospital specialist said he thought my cataracts were down to asthma medication, inhalers, approx 40yrs usage. My GP said he thought not !! The specialist also said that my cataracts obscured central vision, whereas age related cataracts the peripheral vision was impaired. I hope this helps, needless to say I have less trust in my GP these days !!