Eyes post cataract surgery.

[prunus]

I visited the hospital yesterday and was surprised at the interest in my steroids that the opthamologist displayed. Can anyone enlighten me on how much steroids are still affecting the eyes after cataract surgery?

[SheffieldJane]

I can’t find it now but I read somewhere that steroid induced cataracts can grow back if you are taking Prednisalone. The post operative drops contain steroid though, don’t they? For inflammation, swelling and infection. It’s a pretty dismaying thought though, just something to watch I guess. I hope your op. was a complete success. We are reducing all the time though.

[DorsetLady PMRGCAuk volunteer in reply to SheffieldJane]

Really? I was still on about 8 or 9mg when I had mine done I think - no body seemed perturbed about that.

5 years on (2on steroids) and it’s fine.

Posterior capsule opacification (PCO) is a complication that can occur sometime after cataract surgery. It is fairly common; 10 per cent of people will develop PCO within two years of having cataract surgery. Don’t think it’s related to steroids though. See link -

rnib.org.uk/eye-health/your...

[SheffieldJane in reply to DorsetLady]

I want to be wrong. It may have been a post.

[DorsetLady PMRGCAuk volunteer in reply to SheffieldJane]

Don’t know, I can’t recall seeing (sorry!) anything.

[prunus in reply to DorsetLady]

I've just read the rnib page about PCO. I had to have laser treatment on one eye a short while ago. From what is said there in paragraph 3 of the first page it looks like it depends how good your opthalmologist is at cleaning out all the cells in the first place. I had two different surgeons and the first was far more careful than the second who was a locum consultant. I have paid the price of having the locum.

[Hidden in reply to SheffieldJane]

The cataract is the lens that's removed and a 'man-made" one put in so nothing to grow back. I think the pouch (for want of a better word) that the cataract was in can go opaque. My gran got it but no treatment then or they refused a 90yrs old.

[SheffieldJane in reply to Hidden]

Sorry to spread misinformation, maybe it was that. Cataracts are something that could well be down the road for me, according to my optician.

[Hidden in reply to SheffieldJane]

I wouldn't have known without gran. I think they can laser them now to clear it all.

[Constance13 in reply to Hidden]

They can! Mine were both 'lasered' free after about 2 years.

[Hidden in reply to Constance13]

I suspect it makes a big difference.👀

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to SheffieldJane]

Once cataracts have been removed they cannot "grow back" - what can happen is what are sometimes called secondary cataracts develop:

aoa.org/patients-and-public...

[Orpheus82]

Dorsetlady is spot on. The crystalline lens is replaced by an acrylic one which cannot change. The capsule into which the lens is placed can become cloudy but is easily layered off with instant restoration of vision. The post op drops are to protect against infection entering the eye through the tiny porthole that was made for the operation. Hope you are enjoying good sight!

[prunus in reply to Orpheus82]

My sight has deteriorated since having the surgery. Immediately after it was good - now I need glasses for close work.

[clieder in reply to prunus]

Unless the cataract surgery inserts special lenses for distant and close vision, usually one in each eye, close vision will not be corrected. Was your close vision good before the cataracts and surgery? If so, perhaps you have the cloudiness that is so common and that a quick laser procedure corrects.

[prunus in reply to clieder]

I have inherited moderate myopia. Yes my close vision was excellent before the predisolone and cataract surgery. They did insert different lenses - one for near and the other for distance when Moorfields did it. Unfortunately they have deteriorated since then much to my disappointment. I don't remember being given

any guidance post op on how to look after them. I now understand it takes them about twelve months to heal.

[clieder in reply to prunus]

So disappointing for you! Let's hope that time will help.

[Christophene in reply to prunus]

Cataract surgery doesn't always result in the vision you were used to; other than pre-op and/or post op drops and keeping an eye shield over the eye when sleeping to keep you from scratching your eye inadvertently in your sleep for a couple of weeks, there is nothing you need to do to care for them. Depending on how long ago you had the surgery, and if you feel your vision deteriorating, you may want to have a ophthalmologist check your eyes. I know in my husband's case, the lens used was not the correct size and had to be replaced in another operation. Your vision deteriorating could be due to some other cause so you should have your eyes checked again. My husband started having retina problems sometime after the cataract surgery. It took 3 surgeries to get his retina problems solved . Happily he wound up with 20/20 vision with glasses. I don't know of anyone who is thrilled with their vision after cataract surgery. I was not dependent on glasses until after cataract surgery; now I am for both distance and reading. We should be grateful for the vision we do have; both my parents lost their vision for different reasons and it was very hard for them to adjust to legal blindness in their old age. My mother's vision loss eventually went beyond legal blindness and was total from diabetes. Her retina specialist tried everything he could to save some sight, but nothing worked.

[Christophene in reply to Christophene]

One other thought, I assume you are on Prednisone. Prednisolone can do weird things to your vision; whatever may be bothering you, may be due to the Preds.???

[Orpheus82]

Oops...or even ‘lazered’....blinking predictive text! 🤪

[Christophene]

I do recall that when I had cataracts removed in 2014, pre- PMR, the surgeon planned to prescribe a post op drop of a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory type. When I told him I was allergic to NSAIDS, he immediately changed the plan to antibiotic and steroid drops; I told him about how NSAIDs effected my skin , causing large blisters on my hands and feet. He said he wasn't taking any chances. I had no problems with the steroid drops. But that was 2 years before PMR came my way.

Since cataracts appear on the lens of the eye, the lens is removed and replaced with an artificial implant lens; how could they grow back then? I was given cards describing each implant to carry in my wallet in case of accident effecting an eye or both , in case the implant needed replacement.

[prunus in reply to Christophene]

I understand it is cells which have not been removed at surgery which now get deposited over time on the artificial lens. I agree sight is so precious.

[Christophene in reply to prunus]

Curious where you heard that? I know many people who have had cataract surgery, and no one ever raised the subject of cells. That is a rare complication of laser vision correction surgery where cells can grow under the corneal flap created before laser treatment applied.

[prunus in reply to Christophene]

At the moment I have had no inspiration as to where I have read it. I have always read any and every article I come across in relation to eyes that I can lay my hands on. If I find nothing I must ask my optometrist in November. The last time I saw him he complained about all the sheets I had given him to read about GCA. He said if every condition had so many sheets he would never get his work done. Having said that we get on well and he is very interested in his work.

[Christophene-Returns]

If you are healing well, I would not worry yourself any further about where or what you read.

[Christophene-Returns in reply to Christophene-Returns]

Unless you are suffering complications from cataract surgery, I wouldn't be too troubled by it; seems your optometrist is not too interested in reading about GCA

[prunus in reply to Christophene-Returns]

It was because of cataract surgery that I needed the laser treatment on my left eye. The problem GCA suffers from is that so few people have it that no-one has heard of it. I was nine days in hospital before it was diagnosed.

[Robertplewis]

I had cataract surgery three months ago from Herzig Eye Institute( herzig-eye.com )

The doctor gave steroid and antibiotic eye drops to use for a little while. Antibiotic for one week and the steroid for three weeks.

Everything went very well and now I'm doing really good.

I would say steroid drops have a low risk of complications when used correctly. But, they can also have damaging side effects sometimes.

I heard some common side effects are Redness, stinging, metallic taste in the throat, blurry vision and signs of an allergic reaction.

However, if not used correctly there will be the risk of cataracts, glaucoma, infection, etc.

So follow all prescription usage and dosage properly to avoid any complications.