Mr.

[Roltuba]

My first post. 68 and otherwise fit but have Glaucoma and on a cocktail of eyedrops. Been on Predisolone for PMR since March 2015 and now on 10mg. Today my Field of Vision test shows considerable deterioration in my right eye from a year ago which corresponds with me taking Prednisolone. This may be a coincidence but I'm very aware that a side effect can be raised eye pressure. I'm seeing an Opthalmologist on 1st March and I'm seeing my GP on Monday 22nd Feb. when I'm going to ask for a referral to a Rheumatologist.

Anyone experiencing or has experienced issues like this? I would be grateful for your thoughts.

[PMRpro Ambassador]

You should have been kept a close eye on (sorry) if you already had glaucoma and had more frequent checks. Pred does have the potential to increase eye pressures.

The medication for PMR is pred - a rheumatologist won't be able to do much else unless they try using methotrexate to try to reduce the pred dose but there is no guarantee that will always work.

[Roltuba in reply to PMRpro]

Thanks PMR pro I'm grateful for this. Methinks I shall be having an interesting conversation with my GP.

[Joyful13]

I have been taking Prednisone 40mg for since May 2015, with a month or two of 60mg during that time for GCA/PMR. I am still on 40mg. My eye pressures have been extremely high at times, so I am also on a cocktail of eye drops.

I just saw my ophthalmologist this week as I was having visual changes in both eyes. However, the optic nerves in both eyes looked good. The doctor decided that my eye pressures are stable enough that what I really need right now is a new prescription for a new pair of glasses. I was so relieved that it wasn't visual loss because of the GCA.

I wish you the best; it's so scary when our vision is compensated. Our eyes are such a blessing.

[Roltuba]

Thanks for your good wishes. It's very worrying when you have to admit that your GP hasn't joined up the dots.