Re: Prednisone causes cataracts

[Guest guest]

, of course there is risk with any surgery, but cataract surgery has an excellent track record. For me, the cataracts were one positive thing from sarcoidosis. I've always had terrible vision. For over 10 years I wore extended wear contacts (for many years I wore them continuously for 3-4 wks.). But I had to give up contacts when my eyes got too dry. I developed the cataracts from taking Prednisone, but had the surgeries in fall of 2003, about a month apart. I'm thrilled with the result. For the first time in my life, without glasses or contacts, I can wake up & see, read the time on my alarm clock, go the bathroom without crashing into something. I still need reading glasses, which I bought at Walmart. But I can swim, drive, etc. without those dang glasses! They have newer implants which are supposed to correct distance & near vision; I don't know if they are readily available yet. But I really don't mind the reading glasses. So for me, this Prednisone side effect was a good one! And the surgery was a piece of cake. Hope this helps.

Ramblin' Rose

Moderator

Reply-To: Neurosarcoidosis To: Neurosarcoidosis Subject: Prednisone causes cataractsDate: Fri, 23 Mar 2007 16:51:51 -0000

Some of you have posted questions concerning prednisone. That is theone drug which has kept me out of bed and functioning. I have beentrying to taper off of it since 2000. Now I am paying part of theprice. I am 50 yo and have to have cataracts removed. I found out theday before yesterday when I saw my opthamalogist. It suprised me, yetI was relieved that my eyesight problems, which have become much worseover the past 6 months, can be "easily" fixed. I was so worried thatmy worsening sight was due to sarcoid and that they could do nothingfor it. So the surgery, although scary is preferrable.I should also mention that prednisone has caused significant boneloss, in spite of calcium/vitamin D supplements and fosomax. I nowhave 3 fractures, one of which I have had for 2 years - I heal veryslowly. All of these medications have such risks. It is hard to decidewhich high jump to dive off of. Prednisone is an immunosupressant aswell as an anti-inflammatory. I am also on Remicade and Imuran, allimmunosupressants. I wear gloves when I'm in public or use Purell toconstantly clean my hands and I avoid crowds during flu season. It's adrag -- all of it. One trade-off for another. But little by little myhealth seems to be returning and I hope the trading will stop and Ican live again.

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[Guest guest]

Thanks for the info. I'll do more research this weekend. As far as I

know, there is no sarc in my eyes.

[Guest guest]

Prednisone does hasten the onset of cataracts, so does diabetes and high cholestrol levels. So does aging. More than 90% of all the population in the world will get cataracts. It's a natural occurance of aging, the lens of the eye hardens and calcifies--which is what a cataract is.

As far asprednisone-- it is a wonder drug for many. People with spinal injury are given HUGE doses of IV Solumedrol, which can stop the inflammation and potential paralysis if administered within the first hours of a spinal injury.

The down side is that it causes hardening of the arteries, (as does high cholestrol, and high blood pressure), it causes osteopenia (brittle bones) and increases blood pressure, it can make depression and anxiety worse, it causes huge weight gains, and it stops the natural production of cortisol, which is one of our bodies natural pain killers-- so you have to wean off slowly.

High doses 80mg and up, many times cause psychosis-- and it can make normally calm people extremely aggressive. It is wonderful if you don't want to sleep- for days on end.

anyway, I have to finish this later, but yeah, it's a wonder drug-- and the devil in pill form,

Tracie************************************** AOL now offers free email to everyone. Find out more about what's free from AOL at http://www.aol.com.

[Guest guest]

I hope

so too for you, my prayers are with you, God Bless, Marl a

Marla

Bramer

" Faith

sees the invisible, believes the incredible and receives the impossible "

From: Neurosarcoidosis [mailto:Neurosarcoidosis ] On Behalf Of wendy_cidp

Sent: Friday, March 23, 2007 10:52

AM

To: Neurosarcoidosis

Subject:

Prednisone causes cataracts

Some of you have posted questions concerning

prednisone. That is the

one drug which has kept me out of bed and functioning. I have been

trying to taper off of it since 2000. Now I am paying part of the

price. I am 50 yo and have to have cataracts removed. I found out the

day before yesterday when I saw my opthamalogist. It suprised me, yet

I was relieved that my eyesight problems, which have become much worse

over the past 6 months, can be " easily " fixed. I was so worried that

my worsening sight was due to sarcoid and that they could do nothing

for it. So the surgery, although scary is preferrable.

I should also mention that prednisone has caused significant bone

loss, in spite of calcium/vitamin D supplements and fosomax. I now

have 3 fractures, one of which I have had for 2 years - I heal very

slowly. All of these medications have such risks. It is hard to decide

which high jump to dive off of. Prednisone is an immunosupressant as

well as an anti-inflammatory. I am also on Remicade and Imuran, all

immunosupressants. I wear gloves when I'm in public or use Purell to

constantly clean my hands and I avoid crowds during flu season. It's a

drag -- all of it. One trade-off for another. But little by little my

health seems to be returning and I hope the trading will stop and I

can live again.