Eye changes don't suit prescription glasses

[crafty_grannie]

I was due to have cataracts done soon and was down to 2.5mg Pred, which the opthalmologist was OK with. I've since had a flare and am now back to 35mg and reducing, (PMR/GCA). However I was really bothered about my sight as it was getting very blurry and I was having great difficulty reading. I was concerned that the cataracts had got a lot worse and I wouldn't be able to have anything done about them for ages, with maybe permanent damage. It is also affecting my balance and walking, and I may have to stop driving. I have already lost sight in one eye. However, I just discovered that your eyes change as the Pred dose changes, so that prescription glasses can cause difficulties, but as the dose reduces, they eventually will be more or less OK, depending, of course, of any worsening of the cataracts because of the Pred. This has probably come up on the forum before, but I haven't been on here very long and didn't know about it. I was so relieved I just thought I'd mention it, in case anyone else had a similar experience.

Thanks to all you wonderful people for being so available and willing to offer knowledge and advice.

Many thanks,

[Hidden]

A good reminder for everyone, thank you.

I had to have a pair of ‘middle distance’ glasses made when l was on higher dose Pred & they were really helpful 👩🏻‍🏫

[jinasc]

I developed GCA and as I wore glasses they needed to be changed. So off I went to the optician. Now I had often wondered by Bridget (the optician) just insisted I change my glasses and also get night time driving glasses. I just accepted her advice and as she told me I had the beginning of cataracts at the same time.

I did not realise why Bridget insisted until we had an Optician as a Speaker at a Support Group Meeting. His Mother had PMR and had joined the group and he asked to come and speak to us all.

He explained that Pred and Sunshine did not get on really very well and if we wore glasses to get the lens changed to re-actolite rapide. If we had the beginning of cataracts the pred+sunshine would help them grow. If we did not have them it might alleviate the chance of developing them. He also advised sun glasses and night driving glasses.

How I wish all opticians where the same as the one I had.

11 years down the line, those cataracts of mine have hardly grown at all and I have only had my prescription lens changed three times.

[Soraya_PMR]

I have cataracts since starting pred, but the opth won’t commit to saying they are DUE to pred, as I ‘might have developed them regardless as I’m of a certain age’! They don’t affect my vision.

I had new prescription at the beginning, after 6 months, then after a year. Now at 2 years one eye is heading back in the other direction. New specs needed again! I don’t know how much can be attributed to pred, it could be PMR affecting muscles of the eye couldn’t it?

I have reactolite for distance and driving, and have just added new reactolite reading glasses, you know for those 3 days of summer we get in the UK 😂

[PMRpro Ambassador]

Someone often suggests that when you get the pred-related blurriness that it is worth moving your existing specs up and down your nose before getting new ones! That's how i've managed for the lat 9 years!

[Mstiles in reply to PMRpro]

Me too!

Quick question: are reactolite lenses what are called transition lenses in the US?

No one I’ve seen since diagnosis has mentioned they would prevent cataracts from getting worse.

[Hidden in reply to Mstiles]

Sunglasses also argued to be good in the case of prevention and management of AMD.

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to Mstiles]

Yes, probably - they go darker in response to brighter light.