Cateracts & crohn's

Hi All,

 I know Crohns can cause problems with your eyes but can it cause Cateracts? The reason I ask is  I recently had an eye test done and was told I had Cateracts in both eyes. When I asked how come I have got them when I'm only 46 and nobody in my family have ever had them( including my Grandparents on both sides.)

The Optician said had I been on long term Steriods as this could be the reason for it. I have been on Pred in the past but only for 8 weeks and a low dose.

So is there anyone out there  who is or has been on pred and been told they have Cateracts? All my previous eye tests had beem fine. So it looks like I need to get them done now, if its not one thing its another lol!!!   x  

I had cataract surgery in both eyes when I was 37, but I had been on/off prednisone for 18 years at that time.

Cataracts caused by steroid use develop differently (the lens hardens/vision becomes blurry beginning in the center of the lens and growing outward) than other types of cataracts (age or premature age-related cataracts = the lens begins hardening on the outer edge and continues toward the center). At least that is how my dr. explained it to me.

Did your optician specifically say where he saw the cataract/hardening of the lens? Was it already throughout the entire lens?

My optician caught mine very early - and I subsequently had regular (every other month) appts. w/an Ophthalmologist to follow the progression. In a matter of just one month, I went from not 'needing surgery yet' to needing it ASAP.

Best of luck with your situation, crohnielass.

Hi Chronielass,
It looks like nenagirl is the one who had the surgery...not me. My eyes were fine, she was just telling me that if I take Pred, I need my eyes checked every year.

The surgery was a breeze!

Topical (in the form of eye drops) and local anesthesia was used for my surgeries as well as light sedation via IV (versed/midazolam). My surgery was scheduled for 8:00 am (had to be there at 6:30 am for anesthesia prep) and I was on my way home by 10:45 am. I do remember hearing the dr. talking to her assistant during the surgery but never felt a thing. I was very relaxed.

Typically, the dr. will have you come back the next a.m. to make sure the pressure in the eye is stable, remove the bandage and check your vision. I had to use a couple different eye drops for a few weeks as the eye healed. For the first week or so they had me wear a hard plastic eye patch at night only to protect the eye. I was also advised, in those first couple weeks, not to allow my head to be lower than my heart (like bending over and looking under a table, for example) as that increases eye pressure.

I had both of my surgeries on a Thursday and was back at work as usual on Monday (accounting/office work).

crohnielass

I had cataract surgery last Nov. and Dec. for the same type you have. I was 41 and they think it was from me taking Seroquel, but said steroids can do the same.

Surgery was a breeze. Numbed my eye with a gel and waited for it to dilate and then numbed some more in the OR. Since I caught mine early they weren't very hard and the surgery took about 15 minutes each eye.
I opted for the mono vision where my left eye is for reading and my right is for distance. I only need reading glasses for small print.

Take care,
Bill

Ps. They also said some antibiotics can do this too.