Prednisone causes cataracts

[Guest guest]

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.