cataract due to long term meds

[Mark N]

I went in to have my eyes checked and get new glasses. I was surprised when he wanted to talk to me for a few minutes after the exam. He said my lens was crystallized and starting to cloud up. He said it was very early to see this but considering the medication I am on along with the surgeries that he wasn't surprised. Nothing to do right now but he did say in a few years I could start to see the difference and it would be time to surgically replace the lens. My sight in my right eye [the damaged eye] is worse than the eye sight for my left.

What I want to know is has anyone else had this or heard that our meds can cause this. At 51 I am not really happy about developing this so soon although the surgery is now an easy one and not a big deal.

[moose53]

Hey, Mark,

We're twins http://chocolate-moose.p5.org.uk/MINIS/friends2.gif!!

I just found out that I've got cataracts. He told me awhile back (maybe 10 years or so) that I was just starting them. I gather now they're 'bad' and he doesn't think I'll get much vision correction out of the next pair of glasses.

The thing that really freaks me out is he says I have scars on both my retinas. One of them wouldn't surprise me because I took a really bad fall (tripped on a handicapped ramp :o ) and landed on my face about 15 or so years ago. He said you can get scars from injuries or even just from sneezing.

It's a good thing my parents never told me what a mess I'd be when I "grew up", I think I would have refused to participate http://chocolate-moose.p5.org.uk/MINIS/roflmao2.gif!!

I've been wanting laser surgery for vision correction. I finally have insurance that will pay for it, a doctor that will do it, and the right type of vision that it would work well for -- and I can't get it because of the cataracts -- stupid, piece of crap, body http://chocolate-moose.p5.org.uk/MINIS/14_6_5.gif.

Oh, I've never heard of cataracts being caused by drugs drugs, but, that doesn't mean anything -- I'm no expert.

Good luck. Should we have a race to see who goes first http://chocolate-moose.p5.org.uk/MINIS/girl-running.gifhttp://chocolate-moose.p5.org.uk/MINIS/boy-running.gif!!??

Barb

[suede]

Mark,
I don't have your exact problem, and sorry you are having this.

However I don't know if you remember a while back I posted that I was Dx'Ed with macular degeneration in both eyes,

I'm 53 and the drs say that is rather young. Like you I am and have been for some time on a lot of meds, including plaquenil for possible lupus, plaquenil is known to cause vision damage.

However they say that is not what is causing this as (excuse the lack of proper terminology) that plaquenil causes you to lose your outer vision and macular degeneration your center vision.

Not sure I believe that the med has nothing to do with it as I have learned the hard way that the docs don't know it all.

So now it's a after of trying to figure out the lesser of the two evils, pain and meds or lack of proper vision..

I was blind for over a year so I know what that can be like, but then I had never known pain like I do now and have for so long.

Didn't mean to make this about me, just wanted to share that with you..

May you and Barb both have great luck with your eyesight..

Linda

[Kathi49]

Mark,

I am sorry to hear this. :( I really don't have anything to add other than to say my Neurologist once wanted to recommend Topomax. So, I took that up with my PM and all he said is that they don't or won't prescribe it because of...I THINK it was Glaucoma. It's been so long it is tough for me to remember I only recall Topomax = eye problems. And I really don't know about other medications at all. I would just research and see if you can come up with anything.

What I really wanted to say is that my mother had the cataract surgery about two years ago; both eyes of course were not done at the same time. I was extremely surprised how short that surgery really was. And while she was having it done I was watching a video on how they do it. By the time the video was done, a short one at that, she was done! They gave her some dark glasses and that was about it. If they gave her anything else after that surgery, I just don't know about it. But she was good to go in no time flat.

[debhun]

Hey Mark sorry to hear about your eyes. You and I are the same age. My mom just had one done the first week in July and did good. and she goes the 9 this week to have the other done. The only thing she didn't care for was the drops she has to put in her eye before and after surgery. So after she is done with this last one she will not have to use the drops any more after about the 2 week. She has to wear dark shades when she go outside.But just for a short time.

You are sounding like me now one thing after another here. I hope things work out for you.

Deb

[photonut]

Hi Mark;
WOW. You have the exact same situation as me. I too went to the eye Dr. and was told I had cataracts and will have to have them removed next year. He stated it was from the meds and genetics.I am 53 yrs. I was shocked at the news and still trying to take it all in. It is amazing how many people on this thread have the same situation......Allie

[Mark N]

Thanks for the replies and info. My mother [70] had it done not long ago and the fix is short and easy just as Kathi saw with her mother. I think there must be a tie in to our meds though as common as it seems to be for us.

[Kira]

I do know that my dog got early cataracts from being on a lot of prednisone (steroid). Have you had a lot of steroids for your back?

I have never heard of opiates causing cataracts, but then I don't know everything :)

(Kathi, don't worry... a single dosepak should be okay... my dog was on daily prednisone for years...)

[Kathi49]

Thanks Kira,

I know. :) I have had dosepaks before but I really don't like them for various reasons. And I HAVE had injections! :eek: But...my eyes seem fine for now. Actually, my vision was tested the other day when I had that eyelash wedged in my eyelid! :D Mark, what say you? Have you had a lot of injections or taken oral prednisone? I have just never heard you mention much about injections before.

[Stetson]

I had cataracts in both my eyes before I was 50 as it runs in my family due
to diabetes .It was a miracle operation as you could see perfect once they completed the procedure. Topomax causes glaucoma in rare cases.
I switched to it after weigh-in all the pors and cons of topomax versus neuronton.One cause me to gain weight and have a brain fog the other
caused me to lose weight and stay sharp.My eyes are safe.Review the facts
with your doctor and then check the drug on internet on sites like this.I've been on it over 3 years with no problems.I wanted zonegram but insurance
would not pay for it because it was too new.

[shotspine]

Mark...I'm sorry to hear there is yet one more thing to deal with. It just never stops for us CPers, or so it seems. I haven't been to an Eye Doc for about 4-5 years and it's time I do. I don't think Medicare pays.....note to self......check this out. I'm sure hoping that I don't get your kind of news when I do go.

It sounds like lots of people have amazing results with the surgery though.....a good sign indeed!!

Happy to hear you are getting an MRI soon!!!!

[Bobbi]

I did read (to the best of my ability and being so plainly tired) the posts in the thread.

What I'm curious about is what medications you've taken that could lead to Cataracts?

If I missed that info., my apologies.

My eye doc (an opthamologist - sorry if I have butchered the spelling) Rx'd my lenses with UV protection; a huge culprit leading to cataracts is sun exposure and computer use; my lenses are to help protect from a lot of that "stuff." She hadn't mentioned to me the possibility of meds. causing cataracts and she's thorough as far as I've experienced - even went over ACDF with me.

What medications should we be aware of? that can lead to cataracts? All medications? What medications?

[ASkicker]

Only got a minute Mark, but yes, I some meds can directly lead to cataracts. In fact, in March, I had the surgery to get the right eye fixed, and later this year I'll do the same for the left eye. In my case, it's the Predforte eye drops I use to treat the iritis I get (very, very common in AS patients--I saw Bobbi's name in this thread too, and I know she has AS so I bet she posted this same info). My great opthomalogist at the Univ. of Michigan told me that for people with chronic iritis, it is a 100 percent lock that you will eventually develop cataracts if you use the steroid eye drops long enough.

On the plus side, the cataract surgery was super easy and the results have been fantastic.

[Mark N]

Bobbi, my eye doctor didn't specify what pain meds he was talking about but he just made the comment it was common to develop cataracts after long term use of pain meds; in my case MSContin, Cymbalta, Soma, Testosterone.

[Kathi49]

Hey Mark,

I have no clue either as to WHAT pain meds. But I saw where you mentioned Testosterone. Don't you get the Testosterone injections instead of using patches, creams, etc.? Anyway, I know, weird...but it was just a thought because I personally think any form of replacement therapy can do some really weird things. I just have been looking and I can't find anything on pain meds and cataracts. :eek: Oh, well, I would just ask the doc again if he could tell me specifically what meds. Or, maybe it is just like anything else...the aging process.

[Jo6]

I have Cataract's on both eyes. I have had them over 10 years at least. They just haven't got to the surgery stage. It is a pain in the butt some times though.

I keep hoping he will say it is time because I THINK they are ready!! It seems I heard the med making them worse, but I have had many say the long term meds would make you very hard of hearing.

Not much help but you know how old I am and if its been over 10 years, man you are good to go for a long time. Enjoy:p oh yes, like Kathie said the age thingy. That will give you everything. Trust me, I know*boogie

Jo

[BrokenBladder]

Mark when my mother was alive she had to have cataract surgery and it went well for her. Can you believe that she was 33 years old when they found them? Anyway I know our meds have alot of negative things that go along with taking them, but can you even imaagine where we would be without them?

Someone mentioned medicare in this thred. Does it paay for something like this? Just curious for future knowledge.

[spoiledbeth]

I have to get my eyes checked at least once a year, if not more often, due to the partial facial paralysis I have. My bad side doesn't tear like it is supposed to, so I have to used gel eye drops alot, they told me to use them 6 times a day! I have a hard time doing it though, because it hurts, even if they use the numbing drops in my eye. I have spots on my retina on that eye, so they have to keep a close eye on it. Before I developed the facial paralysis, I had to go in every year though because of all the anti-seizure meds I'm on and the high blood pressure. I also have a family history of eye troubles, so I know it's something I have to keep an eye on.

Beth in MO *butterfly