Steroid meds and cataracts?!
Question:
Steroid meds and cataracts?
I have severe atopic dermatitis (eczema) and have been prescribed Prednisone on and off for several years. Two years ago, my family doctor put me on Prednisone for more than a month straight subsequent to an allergy attack on my skin. Ever since then my eyesight has been getting worse. I heard Prednisone and other steroid meds can cause cataracts. Is this true?
Answers:
It is true that high-dose steroids can cause a fairly specific type of cataract. If you developed a cataract due to the steroid, it would probably not progress after the steroid is discontinued. I suspect that your two-year decline in your eyesight may be related to something else. People have changes in the way their eyes focus and these changes could be a normal shift toward astigmatism, near-sightedness or other focusing error.
Have your eyes examined to determine how much your eyesight has changed, and what needs to be done about it.