Wegs/drugs and eyehealth?

[malin]

I was wondering if there is any link between dry eyes and eyesight getting worse fairly quickly and Wegs or the drugs we take for Wegs? (My eyes are pretty bad but has gone from -4 / -5 to -5 / -6 within a year and then after that it went to -5.50 / -6.50 within less than 8 months!)

I'm in the process of trying out contact lenses but so far no luck. I have a few problems contibuting to this but one of the major ones are dry eyes. I never really had dry eyes before but I'm wondering if my last "course" of pred could have brought this on or perhaps even longterm use of MTX?

Another thing is my optician said I had very very slight degree of astigmatism, I think -0.25 and this is too low for them to be able to correct it. Now, this is the first I've ever heard of ME having astigmatism and I've been wearing glasses since I was 8 years old! From what I've read about it, you are usually born with astigmatism and it doesn't really tend to "get worse" so you tend to have the same level of it thorughout your life. Other than being born with this, you can get astigmatism from damage/injury to your eye but I haven't had anything happen to my eyes at all.

Sooo, could this possibly be another way for Wegs/drugs to mess with us or is this a completely seperate issue?

[pwc51]

I am sure that Prednisolone is the main cause (although it could be any of the cocktail I am using!) - mine went from -8 to -11 in less than a year and have got worse since (I am wearing real milk bottles at present!). Cataracts have been detected and are being dealt with next month - although interestingly the optician could not see them, it needed a specialist to diagnose them!

[Sangye]

Malin, I suggest you see an opthalmologist for a proper evaluation. Try to find one that specializes in AI diseases.

[elephant]

My eyes got worse too and my eye doctor said I had really bad cataracts. It was from being on prednisone that caused the cataracts. But I can see and don't need glasses. they put lenses in and get rid of the cataracts.

[DEE]

I was the same as elephant ,had both cataract sorted this year.Now only wear glasses for reading. after wearing them for fifty years !!!!!!!!!!!!!!! .dr said he thinks I would have needed them in years to come,but preds helped the proccess along . The op is very quick and I could see the difference straight away. No problems at all .

[Widthofacircle]

I am having cataracts done later this month. Cannot wait as sight is prett bad at this moment in time

[drz]

Do they require you be off all autoimmune suppressants for this type of surgery? Do you have to be in remission 18 months or some specified period of time for this surgery? What kind of prednisone dosage can you have for this surgery?

[pwc51]

Do they require you be off all autoimmune suppressants for this type of surgery? Do you have to be in remission 18 months or some specified period of time for this surgery? What kind of prednisone dosage can you have for this surgery?

Not in my case. I believe I am in medication maintained remission - 12.5Mg pred per day - and have been for about 3 or 4 months. In my case, the only difference from a 'normal' cataract procedure is that there are a couple more post procedure checks to make sure all is well.

[DEE]

I didnt have to alter my meds in any way. i was taking 15mg.preds.at the time. I had both eyes down with a ten week period. The first one i was taking warfarin so was tested the day before. They never at any time said about waiting to have them done . Infact I could hardly see hand infront of noise by the time the were done .