Now have cataracts | Arthritis Information

Wanted to stop by and give everyone a heads up. I went for my yearly eye exam yesterday and found out I've developed cataracts in both eyes. I am 54 yrs old now and have been on prednisone for 1 yr, starting with 15mg and presently on 5mg.

The optometrist said that cataracts vary as far as the speed they progress at but I should have over a year before I will need surgery. He did tell me to be aware of problems driving at night or during storms.

Just wanted everyone to make sure you get your eye exams while using steroids because the possibility of cataracts is real.

Take care!!!

Russellcat,
I saw my opthamologist in May and he also told me that I had fast growing cataracts due to the prednisone. He said that I'd probably have to have cataract surgery within a year. I was pretty upset. He also said that cutting back on prednisone now wouldn't change anything with the cataract growth. I've been seeing him for 2 yea since my rheumy diagnosed the PMR.

I have another question....has anyone had problems with their tongue becoming raw and inflamed? My rheumy said it was part of the thinning of the skin due to prednisone.

Gentle hugs,
JannieI have a cataract in my left eye, but I had it before starting the Prednisone. Thanks for the reminder, though as I need to have my eyes rechecked.

Snap! I, too, have developed cataracts since I have been on Prednisolone. It particularly manifests itself when I'm driving at night with headlights coming towards me or driving during the day when there is a bright sky - strangely, I have recently been prescribed spectacles for driving which are very slightly tinted and that has made the world of difference. When suffering from GCA with visual symptoms, it can be very confusing to know which is GCA and which is cataracts.

With reference to the post about a sore tongue, there are other medications that can contribute to this; another tip is to switch to a toothpaste such as Sensodyne Sensitive which doesn't contain a certain ingredient that can aggravate the problem.Pearl,
Thanks for the tip on the toothpaste. I'll try that!
JannieHi Jannie

The ingredient to avoid in the toothpaste is Sodium Lauryl Sulphate - tried to remember it when posting to you late last night but had a "grey cell" moment! Do hope it helps if you try any toothpaste without it.

Hi russellcat, I'm so sorry to hear this. I know I am developing cataracts but I'm 64 and it's normal at my age; they've were there before I got PMR. Last year when I had my eye exam the doctor didn't note any abnormal developments. It's almost time for another exam now. This has me a little scared.
Take care,
freesia
Hi freesia, I'm not sure if I remembered that you are 64. I am 64 too! And I think maybe russellcat is too. Small world, though I guess we are in the median age group for PMR.

It is on my list to get my eye exam scheduled. If I didnt have a list, I probably would get nothing accomplished.

Jannie, on the sore tongue problem. I have had that off and on since being on Prednisone. The worst time was a deep ulcer on the side of my tongue that took many weeks to heal. It did finally heal though. I also use the sensitive toothpaste (I use the Crest brand).

Oops, it is RickF who is 64 too! Sorry, russelcat, maybe you are a youngster?I kind of like being 64 because I always think of the Beatles' song "When I'm 64" and it is such a happy sound! Hi,
I'm jealous...but only 2 more years and I get to sing the Beatles song too. Maybe we'll all be over this crummy disease by then!

I bought some senstive toothpaste today and so we'll see what happens. The right side is the worst and I can see that it's rather raw, possibly ulcerated there. My rheumy said that along with my checks, the inside of my mouth is also swollen. It kind of makes sense that if prednisone causes thinning of the skin that the tongue would also be affected.

Freesia, sorry to hear about your experience with the GI doctor. I hate adding more medications to the mix too. But talking about doctors that have no compassion, has anyone seen the UK series "Doc Martin"? We get it streaming on Netflix and have started at the beginning. It's hilarious...I need things to make me laugh....I've wondered what our UK friends think of it.
Hope everyone is a having pain-free day,

Jannie Hi Jannie,
I hope we will all be PMR-free in two years, or less. That would make turning 64 even more happy.

I'm sorry about your mouth. You aren't taking methotrexate, are you? I've never heard of prednisone causing this kind of ulceration. It seems as if you have talked about it before and people thought it had to do with toothpaste? My sister and brother both have problems with Crest "Total" --it made their teeth hurt, but no ulcers. I hope you are better today!

I haven't seen "Doc Martin" --it sounds like a good show. I like comedies these days...light stuff that makes me laugh! What channel is it on?

RickF, I've also had cataracts for awhile. I'm also worried that pred might be speeding up their development.

freesia
If you have cataracts they will need to be dealt with at some point so speeding their development up seems to be a good thing not a bad thing surely as they won't operate on them until they get to a certain stage. Then you have good vision again!

Eileen

Everyone I know who has had cataract surgery raves about how much better than can see afterward! The colors are more vivid, no more halos around street lights or headlights, and of course you may not need glasses any longer after the new lens implant.

BTW, anyone else have trouble getting to the UK experience site yesterday? I was getting an alert from FireFox that stopped me from going there. Said it was infected with up to 15 malwares or trojans. I tried contacting the the host, but filling out the form they didn't like my phone number... wrong format. It's working today so must have been fixed already.

Take care everyone.

Hey, RickF, I have a cataract in my left eye (slow growing), but did not even realize that was why I see halos around the street lights! Live and learn!

I have always had really good eyesight until I needed reading glasses. Then a couple of years ago they said I needed distance glasses too. They tried me in tri-focals. Big mistake! I would never advise someone starting with tri-focals who has never worn glasses. I could not adjust to them. Very distorted and I felt like I might fall when walking (this was way before I even had PMR and the muscle weakness, etc.). So now I am one of those who has at least 4 pair of glasses. My prescription for reading, my Walmart cheapy for short distances, my prescription for long distances (to watch TV or drive at night) and my prescription sun glasses to drive during the day. If I am riding with my husband and want to read, I have the sunglasses and the prescription glasses on at the same time!!! I have learnend to adjust them so that they work. Good thing I am a grandmother and can take those liberties! I provide the entertainment for my 3 grandsons, especially the 13 year old!

A year ago I visited Beijing, China and fell when I was hurrying up to reach my wife who was in front of me. There was something (an edge) in the pedestrian street that made me fall. When I sat down on the bench somebody came with a warning sign! The next morning I watched BBC World News and they reported from Australia that a study had shown that older people should not wear variofocal glasses as it is sometimes hard to judge distances. I had variofocal glasses but will change when I get new glasses. After the fall I am extra careful in stairs when going down and I think I look more at the ground in front of me than I used to do. I sprained my thigh, so during the two weeks in China, I had problems walking. If you want to read more, you can google "variofocal glasses BBC.

Ragnar

I wear "progressive bifocal" glasses and love them! I've worn them for about 16 years now. It takes a bit of time to get used to them at first as you have to look straight ahead when reading and learn to raise or lower your chin some to get the focus right. Took me about two weeks, but then became second nature. There is no line to get in the way. I would have to wear Trifocals if these didn't work – which would be two lines to get in the way. It was explained to me that there are actually 12 different levels of correction in the middle channel of vision. Here's an image below:

RickF2011-06-17 08:19:01Thanks Rick and Ragnar. I think we are all looking down more and trying to be careful, but we dont need distorted vision to add to the probability of falling.

Rick, you mentioned wearing them 16 years, so you got them about age 45 (?). That could be part of my problem in that I never wore glasses of any kind. My husband has bifocals (I think with the progressive lenses) and he does well, but he has had to wear glasses since his early 20's.

Ragnar,thanks for the information on the study. I can believe it that variofocals make it hard to judge distances. The ground/steps, etc look a lot different than when I did not wear the glasses. I was really apprehensive with the tri-focals and took them off if I was walking. I also did not like driving with them as my peripheral vision did not seem right either. I dont mind having mulitiple pairs of glasses and feel a lot safer.

Hi,
I've been wearing progressive lenses for about 10 years. When I first got them, it was really difficult to adjust. Finally a friend who wears them told me to point my nose in the direction that I need to see and that would bring everything into focus. It worked and I don't have any problem with them.
After reading about the cataract surgery and your posts, I'm kind of looking forward to it. I'm just hoping that my Blue Cross insurance will pay for the corrective lens implants, so that I'll no longer need glasses.
Ragner, I've read your posts, but haven't seen any here for awhile. Have you recovered from PMR? I believe yours is the slow taper method that we all seem to follow.
JannieYes, I got my progressives around age 48. Since I'm a musician (play euphonium), the one time I can't use progressives successfully is when I'm playing and trying to read music. As Jannie said, you need to point your nose at what you want to read. Holding an instrument (with mouthpiece to my lips) it's difficult to move the instrument left and right to read the music. For this I have a special pair of bifocals just for music with a correction for 3 feet away.

Take care everyone.
Hi, I'm 64 also! Although it's not too bad, I'd rather be 34 or even 54!

I also have cataracts that were there before PMR. Also glaucoma, kidney desease and diabetes to name a few. My friends can't understand why I look so healthy with all my problems so I tell them I don't worry and eat some chocolate now and them!Now what does this say about us??? Many of us posting on this forum are 64!

Is that because 64 is the most common age for PMR or is it that those of us who are 64 are just at a chatty age and post on forums????

RickF can probably give us the statistics/probabilities! Hi pcmanic

Unfortunately I'm no longer 64 but was when first suffering with PMR some 5+ years ago!

As you and I both suffer from CKD3, I wondered whether you have been recommended to keep your weight down? A kidney consultant told me 4 years ago that taking plenty of exercise and keeping the weight off(not so easy when on steroids!) was important for the low functioning kidney. As well as that, I also try to drink plenty of water and eat very little salt. I don't drink any alcohol as I feel that could be toxic for a low filtering kidney and I prefer to avoid as many toxins as possible even though I drink plenty of water. I remember you mentioned in a previous post that it was important to restrict phosphorus intake - I guess that is a little difficult as I think it's in many foodstuffs.

Do hope you're doing well PMR-wise especially.

Thanks, fingersandthumbs!

Thanks, fingersandthumbs. I had forgotten all of those lyrics. Well I lost 20 lbs in the month before I was DX'd. In the months since I have gained it all back!! If there is food around I eat it.My wife can eat whatever she wants and never gains an ounce! I really need to lose weight though to take some of the weight off of my hips. Dropping down from 10mgs of prednisone has caused a mild flare but I'm going to see if I can "tough it out". The prednisone is causing my other conditions to worsen. And Thanks for letting me know about the weight loss and kidney desease, it makes sense!

Rich

Rich - the weight gain caused by steroids is a particular curse when you have other problems to worry about. I learnt very early on in my treatment that I had to really watch my diet - a piece of cake or a putting would result in an extra couple of pounds immediately! The main thing I did was to reduce my carb intake (carbs + steroids = weight gain!). Plus I try to eat as many anti-inflammatory foods as I can. The result was that I gained, at most, half a stone, but I feel sure this is because I took total control of my diet - at least that also made me feel that I was having some control over my body instead of PMR controlling everything! Now at half a mg a day, I have lost all the steroid weight and more and I'm continuing to try and lose in the hope that this will bring my blood pressure down and protect my kidney.

Do hope you can hold at 10mgs - I was lucky in that I had raised blood markers with PMR so this was always used as a guide by my rheumy.....they were done prior to each reduction and if they weren't normal, he told me not to reduce for a bit longer. I can honestly say that I never became totally pain-free through all the reductions until on the very low doses but I learnt to know which pain was steroid-reduction pain and which was increasing PMR pain. Take care and good luck!

Sorry - "putting" should, of course read "pudding" - my desktop computer is away for repair (multiple viruses!) and I don't find my laptop keyboard nearly as easy to work on!Jannie asked if I had got rid of the cortisone. Yes, I have been free from Pred since december 2008. This spring I have felt some fatigue and have gone through a lot of examinations. To-day it is probably 3 months since they started to try to find out what was wrong and I toook a biopsy in my right temple. Exactly six years ago - some days before Midsummer Eve (that we celebrate in Sweden, this year on Friday the 24th) I had my first biopsy in the left temple. That was the final decision that I had pmr and GCA. To-day, the surgeon didn´t think I had any inflammation in the vein where he made the biopsy, and they have tested me for pmr and GCA about three months this time too. I will know in some weeks what the lab says. Somebody asked some time ago about the biopsy. There is nothing to it. I went to the Day Surgery of a main hospital and after a local anaestisia, it probably toook 15 minutes to finish. If the surgeon had found the right type of vein it could have been faster. Now I have a bandage around the head and will take it off to-morrow and just keep the patch for a week. It didn´t hurt at all.

Sometimes, there is a discussion about cutting the tablets and some persons are afraid that the halves or the four pieces won´t be exactly the same size (and strength). Jannie mentioned "Ragnar´s method" and if you follow that, it doesn´t matter if the tablets are not the same size as you spread it out during some days and finally have the full tablet. I used to break the tablets by hand in four pieces.

As I have written before - I think that it is better to be painfree than trying to reduce the pred too fast and possibly get a flare. What is the good thing about lower dosage if you have pain?

Good luck all with tapering - there is an end of the tunnel!

Ragnar

Ragnar, I really hope you will be okay. I'm sorry about the fatigue, and hope it's not GCA or PMR coming back...keep us posted!!!

freesia
freesia2011-06-21 18:40:08 Rich, I also lost weight before I was diagnosed...I was so uncomfortable, scared and unhappy wondering what the heck was going on, I didn't eat much and I think the inflammation helped burn off the weight. Once I got stabilized on prednisone I ate too much and the weight came back.

I hope you will be able to hold at 10 mg. This disease is so weird, you can feel like you are getting better and the next thing you know, you get slammed with a flare. Right now it seems like the hardest thing to learn is what is a flare and what is pred withdrawal pain....hang in there...

freesia
freesia2011-06-21 18:56:09
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