Prednisone and cataract surgery

[christi48]

Will Prednisone affect the success of my healing from cataract surgery? I am currently taking 5 mg/day but just started the slow taper with a goal of 4 1/2. My surgery is scheduled for May 31. Thank you.

[SheffieldJane]

I’d seek advice from my surgeon some of them have strong views about steroids and cataract operations. Don’t rush your taper, the end could be in sight. I think the worry is the danger of infection but I have heard that some surgeons don’t mind the low doses and yet others who wish to administer hydrocortisone and be in charge of the dose.

[christi48 in reply to SheffieldJane]

Thank you.

[Gigi1946 in reply to SheffieldJane]

My eye doc did not mention prednisone, and everything went smoothly. I was on 5 mg. However, when I had foot surgery recently, my surgeon was adamant about me being off prednisone, ideally for three weeks. I only found out a week before, and I was on 4 mg. I tapered 1 mg each day and was completely off for 3 days before the surgery. I thought why not stay off, but within days I was so weepy and pained all over, the doc said get back on 2 mg. It's made a huge difference. Good look with cataract surgery. I love my results!

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to Gigi1946]

You were very very lucky you didn't have an adrenal crisis, especially with having surgery while you were off pred.

[Nextoneplease]

Hi christi 😊

My experience may or may not be typical. My cataract ops were done on the NHS through an organisation called SpaMedica. I was on 12mg daily at the time of the operations. It didn’t cause any problems and the surgeon was not worried about it 😊

That said, they did ask about my dose so may have taken some precautions of which I was unaware.

Good luck with the ops - I found them wonderfully effective 😊xx

[DorsetLady PMRGCAuk volunteer]

Shouldn’t do, I had mine done when I was on about 8mg - long time ago -and having been on high doses previously for GCA…. No adverse effects on healing….

And headed off to NZ for 6 weeks a couple of months later….

[Daffodilia]

Ask the doctor - I carried on with pred

[Nanny71]

Hi

I had cataract surgery Oct and December of last year. I was on 5mg at the time. No problems at all. Hope yours is the same .🌺🌺

[Koalajane]

I had mine done in February. I did have complications, nothing to do w ith pred. Part of the cataract dropped behind the eye. After some prodding about for quite some time to retrieve it, they gave up. My eye was very inflamed and I was given drops and tablets which healed it without any problem and a week later I was able to have the piece taken out in another op and my new lens put in. It all healed very well without a problem and I will be having the other eye done soon.

I am only telling you this to show that even at 5.5mg there was no problem with healing after a couple of ops. Just make sure you use the drops after.

I have to say my complication was a 2% chance. But sorted quite quickly.

You will be absolutely fine.

[Hulotsholiday]

I’m on 8mg currently and have taken pred for> 5 years. Had cataract surgery 10 days ago and no problems. They gave me drops (steroid) for two weeks and ‘oral’ ( the pred I take daily for two weeks. It’s usually drops for a month. The main risk is infection from dust or dirt. I’ve had no difficulty and wear protective eye covering outside to stop the wind. Good luck.

[Louisepenygraig]

I'm hoping to have one of mine done soon and am currently on 5.5 mg pred, struggling to get down to 5 so I'm interested in seeing what answers you get. I don't seem to have been any more prone to infections since I started on pred 6 years ago!

[herdysheep]

I was on nearer 10mg when I had mine done. Team were more concerned about blood pressure than pred. No problems. Eye hygiene after is the key. Certainly life enhancing having them done.

[Megams]

~I wouldn't think so christi48 but of course we are all different with our healing responses both good and not so good.

My recovery from cataract surgery seemed to flow well and uneventful.

It was discovered that a fraction of cataract was left behind which can occur. Eventually this will be lasered but not necessary presently.

Was taking my usual dose of hydrocortisone - 10mg x 2 daily at time.

Good luck~

[Telian]

In my case it didn’t. I was on 4mg and had no healing problems. Make sure you complete the full course of post surgery eye drops. I would also suggest you complete your current taper and stay on that dose until at least a month following surgery when you will have finished your drops. Good luck.