Crohn's, steroids & cataracts

Have any of you developed cataracts at an earlier than usual age? I had my eyes checked recently and the optometrist informed that I have them and HAD them the last time I had them checked in 2012. A different doctor did that exam and never bothered to mention it. I'm no spring chicken, but I'm sure it's from all those steroids I've been on in the past. I've had episcleritis before and deal with dry a lot. Darn it all.

I developed astigmatism a month after a hysterectomy with ovary removal, but I also had a Crohn's flare afterward. I know I did steroid treatment for that flare, but I'm sure it was after that astigmatism thing happened. I've had one eye dr. say he had seen that happen before and another said there's no correlation. I know it happened, plain & simple.

The thing is, I could already see the cloudy ring around the outer part of my iris, and my dad had cataracts/cataract surgery and I knew what it looked like, but I think I was hoping that it was my imagination. It's nowhere near the pupil yet, but I've noticed that bright light is already causing far more glare than it used to. It's one of those things that you assume you're going to be on Medicare before you have to have that surgery. Rats.

Been on prednisone for many years.  5 years ago, I weaned off.   about 4 years ago, the optometrist diagnosed me with the beginning of cataracts.   They have been staying stable, meaning not getting worse.  I read if your nutrition is excellent, sometimes cataracts can be reversed, but having crohn's and absorption problems, it is difficult to keep up good nutrition. 

I has cataract surgery on both of my eyes at age 37. At that time, I had been on/off pred. regularly for 18 years.

JaSanne, are you sure what you have are cataracts from steroid use? I was told that steroid-induced cataracts begin in the center of the lens and the hardening progresses outward. In other/age-related cataracts, the hardening of the lens begins at the outer perimeter and progresses towards the center. I had distortion of my central vision as one of the earliest symptoms.

The cataract surgery is not painful and the results are immediate. It's done as an outpatient surgery with just local anesthesia.

I understand being squeamish about eye surgery, I felt the same way (still don't like anybody messing with my eyes).

With intraocular lens implants, reading glasses are usually needed after surgery for near vision and distance vision is usually very good (20/20 or better). I was restricted for distance vision on my drivers license before my surgery and did not need any correction for near vision. After my cataract surgery, it was the opposite and I had the distance restriction lifted and now need reading glasses.

Whatever you decide to do, I wish you the best!

I was on large doses of Prednisone for several years when I was in my 20's. By the age of 36, I was dx. with the beginnings of cataracts. At age 44 had cataract surgery & have had no problems with eyes since then. They have dome a long way with cataract surgery…

You mention that your dad had them, could it be familial? Mind you a lot of older folk have to have surgery, so he may have had it from old age?