Cataract surgery

[Sorop]

I just wanted to thank everyone for their advice and support particularly about cataract surgery while on 25mg steroids. I had a cataract successfully removed 3 days ago and thrilled to bits the world is so colourful and bright I can now see the flowers (pity about the weeds) It is obviously still early days but could not wait to thank everyone as I was nervous given the high dose of steroids and had been warned they may not agree to do it. Cant' wait to have the other one done as vision is now lop sighted but one step forward. Thank you all again. Valerie

[SheffieldJane]

That’s fantastic news Valerie, encouraging to all of us who might be worried about needing this procedure. I’ve heard other good reports too.

[Sorop in reply to SheffieldJane]

Thank you for replying it is good to share news on this site everyone so supportive best wishes on your journey.

[Soraya_PMR]

That’s great to hear Valerie.

Optometrist told me this week that I have the beginnings of cataracts, but I shall not be disheartened, especially with news like yours.

Hope op number 2 comes quickly and is every bit as successful. Well done

[Sorop in reply to Soraya_PMR]

Thank you Soraya I am sure all will be well with you when the time comes. Best wishes. Valerie

[PMRpro Ambassador]

That is so good to hear - one friend was furious with her daughter for allowing her to buy "those awful curtains"!! Weeds are just flowers in what you think is the wrong place - bees love them.

What did the eye surgeon say? Interesting for future reference.

[Sorop in reply to PMRpro]

Thank you PMRPRO Love the story about the curtains, another friend said she had not realised she had so many cobwebs! I wonder if Miss Haversham had cataracts and could not see the cobwebs?

The eye surgeon was not concerned about my level of steroids and was confident it would be successful. In his extensive experience there are few complications and after the surgery said it went very well. Because cataracts are more likely with steroids they have a lot of patients on steroids with this problem.

Will leave the weeds where they are and give the bees a treat.

Thank you again for all your encouragement and support. I am continuing on the DSNS regime thanks to you. Best wishes and good luck on your personal journey too. Valerie

[PMRpixie]

Hi Sorop. I just had to add a smile to your comment about cataract surgery. I also could not believe the vibrant colors. Plus, it was such an easy and quick experience! Happy for you. Now if this stupid PMR would go away. I've been held captive for three years with no reprieve. It's hard but glad to have so many listening ears. 💜

[Sorop in reply to PMRpixie]

Thank you PMRpixie I am glad that at least one aspect of this journey has improved for you with your sight and the wonderful world we live in. It is so frustrating to be captive as you say I have been captive for two years but this site has been such a help knowing we can rant and share positive news too. Continuing good wishes. Valerie

[trish29]

Hello Sorop, l am so pleased that your cataract operation went well and that the 2nd operation has the same success. This gives me such hope as l have been diagnosed with slow growing cataracts in Both my eyes and have been getting more blurred vision. I have always seemed to read on posts and medical articles that l would have no chance of getting them operated on but when l saw my Rheumatologist last month he assured me that it was indeed possible even though l seem to be mainly between 14.05 /16.05mg steroid he said for me to get my GP to refer me for an appointment and he also mentioned it in a letter to her I see my GP again on the 23rd of this month so l will be crossing my fingers that she will agree. Optometrist at Specsavers told me last September that the problem was there. I know that cataract operations have a good success rate as my other half has had both his eyes done. Due to lots of complications re flares etc l haven't been able to stay below 15mg steroid and unfortunately l ended up at A/E at a Guildford Hospital this week with PMR related problems but l had a nice caring Dr there who understood PMR so once again up went the steroids.I have had a long PMR journey 14 years in May. I hope you get your other operation quickly. Best wishes trish29

[Sorop in reply to trish29]

Hello Trish29

Thank you for sharing your story and sorry it has been such a long journey for you. I have PMR/GCA and had to be on 60mg because of the risk of loosing my sight. I too have had flares and have been on the snakes and ladders up and down experience. I had managed to get down to 15mg but had a major flare and had to go up to 40mg and start tapering all over again and recently had managed to get to 22mg and had internal problems which triggered a flare and had to go up again but they still went ahead with confidence and did the cataract surgery. Good luck for the 23rd and let us know how you get on, we all thinking of you. Wishing you all the best and hope things improve for you. Valerie

[trish29 in reply to Sorop]

Thank you Sorop for your Good Wishes and l will be watching your posts with interest , trish29

[Telian in reply to trish29]

That's a long long time - poor you. I too have cataracts in both eyes, the left not ready yet but right they will do when my current flare settles (sorry I know I'm repeating but don't know who's read what!)

'll count myself lucky compared to you - my steroid dose is much much lower than yours, my flare was due to not being given a top up of steroid prior colonoscopy, as in previous two years, but I believed the consultant when he said my dose was low (3mg) and wouldn't be a problem, however it was and it is annoying when it could have been avoided for as you know it doesn't resolve quickly so am on another journey that I hadn't been on for over 17 months!

[Telian]

Great news Valerie, I've got to have mine done in four months or so once my current flare has settled.

[Sorop in reply to Telian]

Hello Telian

I hope your flare settles soon and you can look forward to the wonderful benefits of gaining your sight back. I can see better out of that eye than I have for many years even prior to this uninvited invader arriving. Good luck and very best wishes. Valerie

[Jackoh]

Great news!!

[Sorop in reply to Jackoh]

Thank you Jackoh! and best wishes.

[karools16]

Glad your op was so successful and you able to see better. I had both mine done in the early days of GCA. My surgeon was an enormous man, with fingers like bananas, and performed such a miracle op.The first things I noticed were how very blue the sky was, how green the grass was....and all the dust in my house! Best wishes for the next.

[Sorop in reply to karools16]

Yes Karools16 everything is so bright I have to wear sunglasses outside! What used to be cream to me is now brilliant white.

All the best. Valerie

[MarkWin]

What great news for you, and very heartening too. I head off to have my left cataract done on Thursday and have been nervous that PRED would be a show stopper - but apparently not. Glad that you went through with it and all has worked out. I am a little nervous about the GANFORT which I drop in each eye every night that alleviates the pressure (another side effect of our PRED friend). Will have to wait, but was informed that I just had to take the meds in to show the surgeon and he would advise on the day.

As an aside, have been on GANFORT for over 6 months now and it really does do what it says - makes ones eyelashes grow and darken. My local barber was very nervous the first time I asked her to trim my eyelashes and wanted to confirm that it wasn't the normal problem with bushy eyebrows. I removed my specs and explained that even as a bloke I knew difference between eyelashes and eyebrows! Caused much discussion, and a very nervous first attempt to trim the eyelashes!

Great you can see without the terrible blurring.

[Sorop in reply to MarkWin]

Thank you MarkWin I hope all goes as well for you on Thursday our thoughts are with you. It will make such a difference. Best wishes.

[Soraya_PMR in reply to MarkWin]

Good luck on Thursday Mark.

Never heard of trimming eyelashes before! But as a female, I might not mind that particular side effect