Cataracts

[Libertylane]

Getting mine done. Both eyes very bad and my 13 days on pred really made them grow. Dr said it was okay to do even if on high prednisone dose. I am off pred 7 days because rheum thinks I don’t have gca but I’m not entirely convinced and very anxious about it everyday. Anxiety taken over my life so to stay. Anyone else had cataract surgery while on high prednisone?

[Hidden]

Hi, I'm sorry to hear this... My eyes went from NO cataracts to BAD cataracts in 70 days.... I was on 15 mg of Pred, when I had mine done in Feb, 2019. Good luck!!!!

[DorsetLady PMRGCAuk volunteer]

To be honest, I would doubt very much that 13 days on Pred made that much difference to your cataracts.

I had been on it at least 2 years before mine became a problem - and at high doses for at least one year.

[Yellowbluebell in reply to DorsetLady]

And i have only developed them over the last 5 months after being on pred for 16 months. Cant see 13 days doing much at all!!

[prunus in reply to DorsetLady]

In November 2012 I was on 60mg of Predisolone for GCA. By Jan 2013 I had begun to notice my eyes being affected and deteriorating.

[DorsetLady PMRGCAuk volunteer in reply to prunus]

Yes but was that cataracts or the effects of high doses of Pred - or both?

I was saying I think 13days is too soon to blame Pred entirely for a cataract problem.

[prunus in reply to DorsetLady]

Are you saying that high doses of pred can affect your vision? I'm not an expert on eyes.

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to prunus]

Yes - double vision and blurriness can occur. Both potential effects of GCA too!

[prunus in reply to PMRpro]

Thanks for that. We're back to all drugs having side effects.

[DorsetLady PMRGCAuk volunteer in reply to prunus]

For some people they do, can make them slightly blurry (listed as a side effect) - which then leads to confusion as to whether Pred or GCA! But if it's the Pred then they improve as you reduce dosage.

[prunus in reply to DorsetLady]

That's very interesting. Many thanks for the info.

[SheffieldJane]

I hope your op is a big success. Everybody who has had it done seems to rave about the clarity of vision.

[Needhamite]

I have had cataracts for 6 years, the same time as I have had pmr. Referred last July, had the pre-op assessment in October when I was asked which eye I wanted done first. The left eye was operated on 2 weeks ago, then at the follow-up appointment last week I was told that the right eye was not ready!

Back to the circuit.

[Daffodilia]

Yes - consultant said it was ok - at 20 mg - no problems experienced

[Roy46]

Define high. I'm on 7.5 mg pred plus blood pressure tabs. Last Friday's cataract op seems to have gone ok

[Jackoh]

I was on 15 mg when I had both of my eyes done ( not at the same time about 3 months in between) Wonderful to be able to see properly again!!

[Asbeck]

One of the best days of my life was the day of cataract surgery. I was at 6.25 mg. Pred. For the first eye they gave me a pre surgical dose of 25 mg. The actual surgery takes about 11 min. Result: 20/20 vision. For the 2nd eye the surgeon told the nurse practitioner not to prescribe the extra surgical dose. No problem. Result 20/20 vision. They replace your own lens. Therefore, any vision problem caused by the lens is cured, not to mention any problems caused by the cataract. Prior to the surgery I was having trouble seeing the ground when I walked, could not drive and was investigating getting a white cane with a red tip. Maybe 2 hours afterward I was like someone in those Pentecostal religions where they stand up and yell Hallelujah. It was GREAT! It was crazy great!!!!!!!!

[SnazzyD]

That would be very unusual in such a short time. Have they been seen to actually change by the same person who saw them before or a photo? Did your eyesight go blurry? Pred can mess up your focus, especially at the higher doses. It took 2 years to develop early cataracts from nothing.

[Tamtan2]

I too am waiting for cataract op on both eyes I am also worried as I have Gca anyone help with this question thank you ☺️

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to Tamtan2]

Probably be better asking this as a new question - otherwise few people will see it.