Cataracts

[Libertylane]

Anyone while on high dose prednisone had cataract surgery? I’m on 50 and cataracts are bad. Growing fast Still waiting for official diagnosis. Cataracts grew fast after back injections a couple months ago

[sandybrown]

Very interesting question! I had cataract operations on both my eyes, it grew very fast.

My cataract was very bad, I used to see multiple ghost image at traffic lights. My high street optician tried to correct it with new glasses, what a waste of money.

I did not link to my back injections to cataract, I had CT guided injections to relive my lower back pain, may be now I am paying for it.

I had a fall in snow six years ago since then my left leg is in pain most of the time difficult to get to sleep!!!!, what can the doctors do?

I took steroid for my allergy but only for a short time, I still have my allergy problems!!

Please do not wait any longer go for your cataract operation.

[Libertylane in reply to sandybrown]

The problem is they probably won’t operate while on high dose prednisone. In hind sight I should have done it this summer before all this. We’re you on high dose prednisone when you had yours?

[Blearyeyed]

If you put your cataract post up on your screen you will find lots of previous posts about peoples experiences of cataracts in the Related Posts section on the right hand side of the screen , you may be interested in tapping through the list and reading these to find all the different information on cataracts you need.

Don't forget , these posts will include lots of different experiences , and everybody's experience is individual , so it's worth looking for the positives, and the more common stories and types of treatment guidelines , when you read past postings rather than the negatives or worst case scenarios .

Hope you find what you need .

[Libertylane in reply to Blearyeyed]

I’m a little confused. By what you mean on my screen

[Blearyeyed in reply to Libertylane]

When you look at your post on your phone , tablet , computer or other device that you log into HU and the forum on , that's your screen.

On the page with your post on which you will be on now if you are reading my reply , look from my reply to the side of the page , on the right hand side of the page you see lots of headings with posts that you can click on underneath bold titles.

The top right of the page with your post on it you will see "Related Posts " written in bold type . Under that heading your can see lots of posts titled cataracts , cataract surgery etc. Etc.

If you tap or click on one or all of these you will be redirected onto the original page with a post on cataracts on it and can read it , and all the replies that member received. You can read as many posts as you want from the related posts section on each page you visit to get a broad view of answers to your questions if answers are available .

[sandybrown in reply to Blearyeyed]

I am afraid your response is not clear!

Is there a connection between cataract developing and back injections?

There is a side effect to cataract operation which I did not mention.

We humans are different and experience different reactions to injections and operations.

[Blearyeyed in reply to sandybrown]

I am giving a response about getting further helpful information via other posts about people's experience of having cataracts , cataract surgery and Prednisone available on our forum. I was offering up the advise to read the other posts on cataracts because you can find the different experiences of many different people on the forum on this subject by reading them and then find something which is helpful for your individual needs.

I am not making a reply about any correlation between back injections and cataracts , I hope that clears up any misunderstanding.

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to sandybrown]

I would be surprised if there were after just a couple of injections - it is prolonged exposure to pred that MAY speed up the formation of cataracts such as we experience when taking oral pred long term or repeatedly. I have been on pred for over 10 years and there is no sign of cataracts forming - unfortunately as far as I'm concerned as the prospect of not needing to wear glasses would delight me!

[Libertylane in reply to PMRpro]

My eye doctor chalked it up to that. Had injections 4 times in few months. Last checked cataract grew in just few days from previous check. Already had cataracts before using any type of steroids. That’s just my body I guess. Worried it will completely cover eye. Cataracts on both eyes. As you say everyone is different. Things just keep snowballing. Just hoping they could do something now

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to Libertylane]

Cataracts are one of the easy things to deal with - whatever caused them to grow quickly.

[Yellowbluebell in reply to PMRpro]

Me too but my last appt said i have cataracts growing. The idea of no glasses would be amazingx

[prunus in reply to PMRpro]

I think you must have been lucky. I had hardly started on 60mg of predisolone when my cataracts started growing. Like you I thought it would be lovely to ditch glasses but it has very much been two edged. Initially everthing was fine but four years down the line I've had to have laser surgery and on my last visit to the optometrist there has been a change and he has told me it will only be a matter of time before I will need to wear glasses again all the time. With the coming of cataracts I have lost the excellent near vision I had when I took my glasses off.

[Yellowbluebell in reply to sandybrown]

Blearyeyed is trying to direct libertylane to other posts about this subject that others have already asked or replied to. This way rather than people having to keep writing out the same details over and over people can put in a subject i.e. cataracts, pred induced cataract and possible any posts on cataracts being caused by back injections. As the forum is run by pmr/gca sufferers this helps us cut down on the amount of repetetive work invved so that we can help more people. Blearyeyed response is quite clear and she isnt giving an opinion on back injections causing cataracts.

Yellowbluebell. Moderator

[Libertylane in reply to Yellowbluebell]

Sorry

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to Libertylane]

If you look at a reply it often tells you to whom the writer was addressing it - in this case YBB was replying to sandybrown.

[Grammy80 in reply to Libertylane]

Don't feel sorry, LibertyBell....you have enough on your plate....I just learned something new right along with you.....never noticed that before. Thanks so much YellowBB The great thing about this site...or one of them...is that we learn every day.

Just one more thing to discuss with your Doctor....take notes~!

[Hidden in reply to Grammy80]

For me that's the point. Gathering info in an understanding way, often from first hand experience. That way you can formulate important questions and hope the dr understands them!

[Grammy80 in reply to Hidden]

I have an area in the kitchen where I keep my meds....(seeing something is the best reminder)...I also keep a pad of paper where I scratch the date, pred dosage....and anything I felt that day out of the ordinary....or something I just questioned.

I was on high dosages of prednisone and methylprednisolone from August to December before any serious taper was attempted...and I don't mind taking it as long as I keep my 'good eye'. As long as I have notes....we can go over them. I'm at 24mg now and have light intermittent syptoms.....so I think I'm in favor of holding this level. But....I don't have my degree.....and I'm interested in hearing his side. I called the Doctor last week about what I was experiencing and he wanted me to stay at 24...so we'll see how this week goes.

You are all a blessing~! Such good advice.

[Hidden in reply to Grammy80]

You need to go with your gut. If you are feeling a bit worse the stay or up until it levels again. Good luck sorting it all. You are doing good so far.

[Grammy80 in reply to Hidden]

Thanks so much....encouragement goes such a long way....xo

[HeronNS]

I've just done as YBB and Blearyeyed suggested and had a quick riffle through posts about steroid dose and pred. I see nothing which indicates the dose of pred matters.

This, of course, is really a question for your eye doctor. Cataract operations are very well understood and easily done these days.

[sandybrown]

When you next have your eyes tested for cataract, please ask the question "What type of cataract are in my eyes? age related or medication related?" Also ask questions on the type of new lenses that they are planning to implement.

For me when the consultant checked my eyes, first comment was you are too young for having cataract. As I did not know any better I did not ask any questions to verify what type of cataract it was! I even had side effect to my cataract operation and had laser correction.

It is imperative you ask all the questions to a medically qualified person.

[Blearyeyed in reply to sandybrown]

Great tips there Sandy!

It's just such a shame you had to learn them through such a rather nasty bit of personal experience.

I hope things have improved for you now , take care xx

[jennifer15 in reply to sandybrown]

I had my cataract done about a year ago and was on about 20mg prednisolone. It sadly made my vision worse.I did not think that this was because of the prednisolone, just bad luck. I recently had laser which has improved the clarity but not my actual sight. Do they use different lenses according to whether the cataract is steroid induced?

Thank you.

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to jennifer15]

Not really - the position of the cataract differs, steroid induced ones are situated posteriorly (at the back of the lens), ordinary ones are anterior. Once the cloudy lens is removed it is the same, a new artificial lens is inserted and vision should be clear. If they did a laser procedure I assume you may have developed posterior capsule opacity.

allaboutvision.com/conditio...

What do you mean when you say your sight didn't improve with the laser procedure?

[jennifer15 in reply to PMRpro]

Hi, thank you so much for that helpful information. The laser treatment was about 2 months ago. My clarity of vision was immediately much better but it did not improve my distance vision. I have just had an eye test done as requested by ophthalmologist, as seeing him in a couple weeks. My vision has not improved since the laser so is still worse than before the cataract operation. Many thanks again for you interest and help

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to jennifer15]

It all depends on the focal distance of the lens they inserted - and that is fixed. If it is for near work then you need glasses for distance as if you were shortsighted and vice versa, if it is for distance you will need specs for close work. There are fancy ones that are multidistance but of course they cost a lot more. One option is to have one eye for distance and one for closer work - I did that with contact lenses, just using top-up specs for driving and would try it with cataract surgery if it ever arises. No sign yet.

[jennifer15 in reply to PMRpro]

Ha, sadly I need glasses for both. Not to worry though, not every operation makes things better and I can still see in both eyes. Thanks.

[Hidden in reply to jennifer15]

OH, yes, I still use my reading glasses like if reading a book, and if I am at the cinema or the theatre I use my long distance glasses, BUT at least I can see without them... I couldn't read or see anything before the surgery, with OR without glasses. My doc had warned that I may still need glasses, but I'm fine wit that!

[Chittychatty in reply to PMRpro]

Hi just trawling through posts re cataracts and pleased to see yours. I had my cataract done last week. After one day although things were brighter and a little clearer I noticed I could see the outer edges of the lens especially when looking to the right. Its driving me nuts. It's less noticeable if I put my glasses back on. I rang the ward but the nurse said nothing to worry about. I explained I think its posterior capsule opacity. She said yes that's the operation you had ??!! I said no.. this is a complication of cataract surgery due to having earlier laser. The clinic who did the laser destroyed my records hence no accurate measurements available. The surgeon who did the cataract did her best with no measurements but this is the consequence . Please everyone if you know someone having private laser surgery do not leave without your measurements its vital. This was the top private provider who did this to me so be aware they just take your money and don't care.

So back to last week, the nurse even went to check with a dr then came back to say it's fine you'll get used to it... no I won't ,apparently I need something called YAG procedure. Everything seems to be a battle regarding health. I'll complain at my follow up appointment unless anyone thinks its something that shouldn't be left.

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to Chittychatty]

Not sure why you have replied to me - you would be better posting this as a new thread if you want others to see it or any comments.

[Daffodilia]

I had cataract surgery Nov 18 on 30 mg and May 19 on 15 mg - all ok - consultant said ok to be on pred

[Hidden]

Hi Libertylane, In 2018, I went from NO cataracts, to severe cataracts in about 6 months. At that time, I had been tapering down (from 80mg) and was at maybe at 45-50mg.

I had my right eye done in mid February 2019 and February left eye done in early March. I had both done right after having a full knee replacement on February 18, 2019.

The eye surgery was the BEST thing I ever did!!! I went from blurred vision and a world that was a muted green/grey, to a world where I could once again see definition and COLOUR!!!! It was like a miracle.

My only complaint is that my eyes are now very dry and feel gritty, but I use eye drops regularly and that does eh trick. Don't hesitate any long... the surgery was a pice of cake and it gave me back an important part of life!!!!

Here is a blog I wrote about the experience; rantingsofamadwomanblog.wor...

Best of luck!

[jennifer15 in reply to Hidden]

I know, I was unfortunately one of the very few when the cataract op did not work. I am improving in health generally though so am not complaining. Thanks

[Hidden in reply to jennifer15]

WOW! Really? That stinks... I'm so sorry!

[Libertylane in reply to Hidden]

Do you were on about 50 mg when done? Maybe there is hope I can do it sooner

[Hidden in reply to Libertylane]

No, when I actually had the cataract surgery, I was on only 15mg, because they would do my knee replacement until I was reached 15mg or less... eye surgery was done two weeks after knee. But I developed the cataracts between 80mg and 45mg... about 9 months I think! They came on and got really bad very quickly!

[tomh]

Hi L, I'm a 73 yo male, with GCA for 7b yrs. Ampresently on 8 mg/d. over the past. Over the past 4-5 yrs, dose has av, 10mg/d. I had Cataracts removed from both eyes 8 months ago. Only consequence is that I now use reading glasses. and before surgery I had 20/20 vision. I live in Rio de Janeiro, and my health plan only covered the 'cheaper' lens implant, and my surgeon, rather belatedly, post surgery, said a more expensive implant was available for multi focus?. Hope this helps and good luck

[georgedog]

I have had both eyes done on low doses of Prednisone with no issues..A n experienced

surgeon will also order Pred drops before and after the surgeon..good luck. GeorgeDog