I enjoyed deteriorating cataracts courtesy of Prednisolone and had both cataracts done three years ago. The results were life changing and I had new lenses that didn’t need me to wear glasses. However, I noticed my vision deteriorating and when I was in Florida had problems with my sun glasses. I came back at the start of Covid so the Optician was closed, I had a friend who told me she had to have laser treatment so I wasn’t worried. When things began to relax I contacted the Opthamologist and had a telephone conversation with him. Apparently I have posterior capsular pacification, the treatment is laser cleaning, takes about 15 minutes and is painless requiring no after care. Bad news is I need the other one done.
Interestingly he told me that some people need it doing in the first 2 years and most within 10
I wasn’t told that, it might have been nice to know.
Most people on Pred worry about their eyes and being blurry or misty may simply mean a post cataract lense needs it’s window cleaned.
Take care
🥂🥂
Written by
EdithWales
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My optometrist did mention this to me about 3 years ago when he thought there might be some deterioration (op done Oct 2014) - but hasn’t referred to it since.
Last appointment- about 6 weeks ago managed to read down to last line on chart, and no change to reading glasses - required because my one cataract is long vision- won’t elaborate why only one replaced, you know the story.
So perhaps I have a self-cleaning version! 👁🔎🧽
And no I wasn’t told pre operation either - maybe for obvious reasons.
Yes I was reading about you Freya this morning, something about vision, I am in the car so will check it when I get back.
We are all fine thank you, my study has been commandeered for telephone triage and the place is a constant mess. I am getting back to 6 but reading about Mrs Nails and PMRPRO should stop moaning about a bit of aching and exhaustion 🥂🥂
“Freya was a Norwegian Goddess who was said to be able to see for 100 miles. During the war the Germans couldn’t resist calling their radar units Freya so giving their purpose away”
I remember over the years having told several people about the development of capsular opacification. I thought it was something that develops fairly soon after the cataract op and not that most people develop it eventually. How interesting.
Thank you, that’s very helpful. I had my eyes tested in January and I was conscious that my vision had deteriorated strangely the Optician who is usually excellent didn’t think it was an issue
Certainly possible. Medicare covered the basic lens then I paid $1000 per eye for the “upgrade”. It is awesome by the way. Complete distance correction and close vision is okay. I use 1.50 reading glasses but actually don’t use them all the time.
Depends on the sort of lens you get - you can have a lens either for distance or for near work and if they are not too different you can have one of each which allows you see close and distance once the brain has adjusted to the two different images. Or you can have multifocal lenses which function like variofocal spectacles.
Thank you all. Lots of food for thought. I have got an appointment with my optician this week as I’m having some vision problems although only been on pred three months and my eyes were tested last February.
In the UK basic lenses are provided by the NHS and make all the difference to cataract sufferers. However when I needed cataracts treated in both eyes 9 years ago, I was still working and elected for the only time in my life to pay for private treatment at one of Optegra's hospitals. I had bespoke lenses inserted at the cost of £3,495 per eye (which I see from their website is still the charge) It was one of the best decisions I ever made as I'm lucky enough to have been free from the whole specs/contact lens malarkey ever since. Also I haven't had any of the problems highlighted by this post, but forewarned is forearmed, so I'll be aware (and won't panic) if my sight does show signs of deterioration.
Last time I had my eyes tested, about a year ago, I still had 20/20 vision. I still don't need glasses in any circumstances, even though lately I've been spending hours doing close work sewing face masks for myself, family and friends - no need for a needle threader! Before I was paying about £450 per year for varifocals, as my prescription (long sight and astigmatism) changed constantly. I worked out that if I lived for 17 years without eyecare expense, the operations would pay for themselves, so 8 more years to go, but if I drop dead tomorrow, it will still have been worth it.
So jealous! I keep hoping my eye checks will spot cataracts but even after 10 years of pred, not a sign. I've worn glasses since I was 7 - from the time I get out of bed until I go to bed. Sore nose, sore ears, sweaty, steaming up when you come in from the cold - you know all about it!
I needed specs and later contact lenses from the age of 7 until I was 60! For the last 10 years or so I gave up on the contact lenses as it was simpler just to rely on the most up-to-date varifocals.
I remember when I'd gone through the 4 weeks of healing after the operations, I looked out of my living room window one morning and found I could count the bricks in the block of flats opposite. My remaining years at work were transformed as I didn't have to keep adjusting for talking to people, working at the computer etc.
I don't need variofocals - just distance glasses as I am so shortsighted reading isn't a problem as long as the book is close enough! I loved contact lenses but dry eye with the PMR stopped that - I'd just love nice sunglasses again that don't weigh a ton!!!
Did you try Flaxseed capsules? I had dry eyes when I had contact lenses. The Optician who is an Academic told me to try Flaxseed, it increased the viscosity by 100%
I know the feeling. I wore glasses from the age of 9. The other children laughed at me in those days. When I went swimming I was in my own world. Got stung on one occasion by a jelly fish because I had not seen it. Now when I can see I'm too old to swim.
I had a cataract op in both eyes at the beginning of last year. I've noticed the vision in my right eye is not as good now. I had an eye test recently at Specsavers and asked about PCO, and the optician said there was a slight secondary cataract at the edge of my eye but it shouldn't affect my vision. I hope to get an appointment sometime soonish with the opthamologist at the hospital (recent appointments cancelled due to Covid) and to have this confirmed and if necessary fixed. I did raise the question of PCO when my eyes were examined pre op, and was told the procedure to correct it is quick and painless.
It sounds like a shooting gallery, a series of clicks. Totally painless. No local and no after care other than the follow up, the brightness was immediate, the focus has to wait until the drops wear off. I had a few floaters but nothing much.
There is a rare possibility of detached retina as with cataracts. I was there under an hour and that was because of Covid restrictions.
thanks for thorough explanation. I've had both cataracts done so at least know what to expect if eyes get blurry again. I wasn't told about this at time of surgery. Don't know why.
Thank you all for this information, I need cataract surgery, but want to wait till November, December. I'm on the NHS waiting list, which , I am told , is about 5 months. Apparently NHS only use scalpel for surgery, whereas privately you can have the incision made with laser. I think I will op for private, although frightfully expensive, over £4000 per eye. I'm worried it will take longer to heal with scalpel, particularly since any leg abrasions I get take 2/3 months to heal, with nurses cleaning and dressing each week. But of course these questions will be answered when I make a consultation appointment. My healing process has been hampered since taking prednisolone.
PMRpro thank you for the info. Interesting. The surgeon I was thinking of has up-to-date technology and is a very highly recommended surgeon. My O.H. stopped private insurance a few years ago - just when we needed it most - but fortunately we can afford this. Nevertheless it is a lot of money to pay for cataracts when NHS can do the same job, without laser, but with basic mono lense. I think I ought to go ahead and book a consultation so I can have all my questions answered.
Sorry to read about the issue with your eyes, as you say it would have been good to have been aware of this possibility!
Glad to read you are getting down on the Pred but take it easy.
Hope Dr H isn’t too busy but l’m sure he’s pleased to be doing his bit.
Speak Soon
Angela 🥂💗
Mine’s Sparkling Elderflower 🥂
I had cataracts repaired before PMR. Opted for standard lens as I also needed reading glasses since I’d reached “that age”. One eye needed the laser about 2 months later. I have yearly eye exams. All good, in fact my vision has improved. Nice to have one thing with this old body going right. 😊.
Posterior capsular pacification is very common after cataract surgery! Within a year of cataract surgery both eyes needed to be fixed. Yag laser, takes about a minute. Teensy pinhole allows light to pass through the posterior capsule!
During cataract surgery, your cloudy lens is removed.. But no matter how much is removed, there are epithelial cells remaining.. In time they will grow.. They are cells after all! Completely normal.. Tis why the Yag laser works so well!
No sedative! No surgery.. Done right there in the Dr's office! Vision change instantly.
I had laser surgery on one eye two years ago. I understood that posterior capsule opacification is the making of holes in the lens capsule to let light through. Although the bonking of the laser was painless it did leave me with a heavy head above my left eye.
Hello. Three years ago I had a cataract Op and was happy with the result until this Spring onwards when it began to deteriorate. I saw my Opthalmologist (privately) last week. He zapped the fog away in about 5 minutes. It is like having a new eye! Amazing results. Totally painless laser treatment and very common to get this so called "secondary cataract" after about 3 years. That in itself is nothing to do with Prednisolone.
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