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Eye changes while on prednisone

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Posted 1/21/2008 5:18 PM (GMT 0)
My eyes have been super dry the past month or so and I know I am not normally like this just b/c it's winter.  Have been on pred for 4.5 mos about 50mg a day.  Should I go see an eye Dr.?  I know pred can cause problems, right?

TIA!

Posted 1/21/2008 6:14 PM (GMT 0)
If you are having vision changes you probably should go see an eye doctor. Usually prednisone elevates intraocular pressure, which is a concern in patients with glaucoma. I'm sure there are other effects as well, such as cataract formation, etc. If you just recently starting having eye problems after having been on the prednisone for 4.5 months, it's unusual that the prednisone would be to blame, but better safe than sorry. Go see your doctor.
Posted 1/21/2008 7:39 PM (GMT 0)
Pred. can definitely cause eye issues. I just saw my eye doctor for my yearly checkup and we discussed my past pred. use. He said it is good to have regular checkups while on pred. and if you have any problems. Wouldn't hurt to have them check right?!
Posted 1/21/2008 9:44 PM (GMT 0)
I also have been advised to have regular eye checks because of the Pred usage, I never get dry eyes but I occasionally have burst blood vessels in them which feels and looks horrid, regular precautionary eye checks is the way to go.

Dave
Posted 1/22/2008 12:07 AM (GMT 0)
Prednisone always made my eyes drier. I wear contacts too, so I would always drink extra water and that would always help.
Posted 1/29/2008 10:30 PM (GMT 0)

Beth75

You inquired about the effects of Prednisone on the eyes.  I was on Prednisone for a number of months one summer for poison ivy & I noticed my vision became very blurry.  When I went to the eye dr., she told me I had cataracts in both eyes.  I was not old enough, I thought, for cataracts but after being sent to an eye surgeon who confirmed I had them, I was told Prednisone causes cataracts.  I am presently back on Prednisone for UC flare up but was told once I had the cataract surgery, which I did, Prednisone can no longer damage my eyes.  Just a side note to cataract surgery-----eye sight was great the first yr. but gradually getting worse & also developed dry eye syndrome from it.  Frustrating what all side effects can do to your health.

Posted 2/1/2008 10:36 AM (GMT 0)
i too have dried eyes, thanks pred lol
Posted 2/1/2008 9:05 PM (GMT 0)
yeah I was on Prednisone from February of '07 until one week ago. I too had blurry vision and now my eyes have been extreamly dry. My Gastro said the vision change was due to the drug and since stopping my sight is slowly sharpening. Good luck!
Posted 2/1/2008 9:51 PM (GMT 0)
my daughter is not on oral prednisone, you can see her drugs below, but she has been having painful eye pressure the last couple of weeks and the opthamologist said it is inflamation, just like the intestines, other parts of the body are prone to inflamation especially eyes and the womans internal privates-even w/out infection present. that said i don't know about the prednisone.
Posted 2/10/2008 4:26 AM (GMT 0)
my vision is weird on the pred too!!! it is blurry, not all the time though. I hope it goes away when i'm off. If not- off to the eye doctor too!!
Posted 2/10/2008 7:51 AM (GMT 0)
i had blurry vision while on pred. dry and irritated too. usually started half way thru the day to night time. i would say til i went to sleep, but i had insomnia from the pred. i went to eye doctor and had all the test done and he said pred can cause eye problems that "usually" go away once you stop the drug. i have been off pred for over a month and i have no more eye problems.
Posted 2/10/2008 2:19 PM (GMT 0)
Just a FYI, not just pred can cause eye difficulties. I have never been on pred and I have dry eye which is a complication of Uc as well as blurry vision (which can be from dry eye). I now use dry eye drops and it helps. So if you are having eye difficulties, don't just assume it's from pred - it's always best to ask the doctor to be on the safe side because Uc can also cause eye infections.
Posted 2/10/2008 8:32 PM (GMT 0)
Red, thanks I had no idea UC could cause eye problems, I will talk to the GI I will be seeing him in April, I bought some visine and it helps momentarily but then the dryness comes right back
Posted 2/10/2008 10:06 PM (GMT 0)
Beth, it's best to stay away from eye drops such as Visine because it can have a rebound affect if used for longer then 3 days. If you are still having problems with your dry eyes, you can get OTC drops for Dry Eye such as Systane or Bausch and Lomb (which is what I use). These dry eye drops can be used frequently thru out the day with no ill effects.
Posted 1/6/2017 2:44 AM (GMT 0)
Hi guys.

I was diagnosed with UC in 1994 at age 17. During this chaotic time, I was on so much Prednisone, I feel like a Prednisone "expert". That was 23 years ago.

Yes Prednisone have various side effects & one famously besides the "moon face" & terrible acne, is the dry eyes.
Everyone with this disease whether on or off this medication, will experience visual changes from the disease itself, because it is an auto immune disorder.
Please, if anyone has any questions about this life-altering disease, you are more than welcome to reach out to me.

Thank you in advance.
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