1. < Polymyalgia Rheumatica (PMR)
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Effects of Prednisone on Eyes

Posted by susanew @susanew, Sep 5, 2024

I no longer am taking prednisone and now only have stiffness if I sit too long. But what surprised me was my yearly eye exam with the optometrist. I see her for prescription glasses only and she said my eyes really have significantly worsened in both near and far vision. Last year there was no change at all. When I saw the ophthalmologist, she mentioned my pressure was higher and she attributed it to the prednisone. Hopefully now that have stopped using the steroids, pressure will go down. Am now seeing her twice a year.

Have your eyes been affected by prednisone? Have you had any other negative side effects?

Interested in more discussions like this? Go to the Polymyalgia Rheumatica (PMR) Support Group.

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sandiw77 | @sandiw77 | Sep 7, 2024
In reply to @jlo2252 "@sandiw77 What biologic are you on? I truly hope it works for you and that you..." + (show)
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@sandiw77
What biologic are you on?
I truly hope it works for you and that you can get rid of prednisone for good!

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Thanks @jlo2252! I just had my first infusion of Actemra last week. Praying that it works well with little or no side effects.

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jlo2252 | @jlo2252 | Sep 7, 2024

@sandiw77
Oh good! Actemra is the one my rheumatologist wants me on. I’m just on hold at the moment because of a stubborn bout of bronchitis and asthma.
Keep us posted and stay well Sandiw77!

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sandiw77 | @sandiw77 | Sep 7, 2024
In reply to @jlo2252 "@sandiw77 Oh good! Actemra is the one my rheumatologist wants me on. I’m just on hold..." + (show)
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@sandiw77
Oh good! Actemra is the one my rheumatologist wants me on. I’m just on hold at the moment because of a stubborn bout of bronchitis and asthma.
Keep us posted and stay well Sandiw77!

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That’s great jlo2252! I’ll be praying that the bronchitis and asthma clear quickly. 💖

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kc8591 | @kc8591 | Sep 7, 2024
In reply to @bostonredsox1945 "Can PMR or the steroids while on PMR induce vitreous cobweb floaters in one eye? Can..." + (show)
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Can PMR or the steroids while on PMR induce vitreous cobweb floaters in one eye? Can steroids used to treat PMR cause blurred vision?

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I can’t prove anything but was diagnosed 5 months ago and been on prednisone for 4 months now, I had a vitreous detachment a week ago. I now have floated in my vision and foggy vision. There’s no doubt in my mind it’s related.

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dougschiffman | @dougschiffman | Sep 8, 2024

Yes, the Prednisone is the culprit. My eyes are droopy and squinty and my vision is slowly deteriorating. I'm at 5 MG and tapering 1/2 MG every 4 weeks.

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kc8591 | @kc8591 | Sep 8, 2024

I’ve been on prednisone for 4 months, started at 20 down to 13mgs . I’ve had perfect vision my entire life. I’ve notice changes since starting. I had a posterior vitreous detachment last week.
I’m sure that it is from the PMR or the prednisone.

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sloped483 | @sloped483 | Sep 9, 2024
In reply to @sandiw77 "I’m glad to see this topic for discussion because I have daily watery eyes from using..." + (show)
Profile picture for sandiw77 @sandiw77

I’m glad to see this topic for discussion because I have daily watery eyes from using Prednisone. My ophthalmologist says that it is because my eyes bulge from steroid use and when I blink they do not close completely. This results in “dry eye”. He prescribed eye drops but they really don’t help. To complicate things, I have had trouble tapering my steroid use and have just started taking a biologic. I hope that this will finally help me to get rid of steroids and all of the side effects. Good luck to all of us hoping for the same! ❤️

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Bulging eyes, check your thyroid for Graves disease.

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jlo2252 | @jlo2252 | Sep 9, 2024
In reply to @tuckerp "I have had asthma since I was a kid. I usually use benydrl. Its not my..." + (show)
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I have had asthma since I was a kid. I usually use benydrl. Its not my favorite due to decreasing brain cells but it works for me. I did have the gastritis checked. All was good. Dr said I had a mild hiatal hernia. Who knows how I got that. My nerves have always given me a bit of IBS. Take care as well.

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@tuckerp
Benadryl does not work for my asthma, it’s not an anti inflammatory. As an antihistamine it does help if I’m having other allergic symptoms like post nasal drip or itching. I don’t take very often because of the drowsiness it causes!

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sandiw77 | @sandiw77 | Sep 9, 2024
In reply to @sloped483 "Bulging eyes, check your thyroid for Graves disease." + (show)
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Bulging eyes, check your thyroid for Graves disease.

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Thanks for the recommendation! I have had the buldging eyes checked which concluded with the ophthalmologist visit. It’s definitely the Prednisone. Blessings!

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lovinghands | @lovinghands | May 1 10:55pm
In reply to @thenazareneshul "It was my Opthamologist who made me get off of Prednisone. It was literally blinding me...." + (show)
Profile picture for thenazareneshul @thenazareneshul

It was my Opthamologist who made me get off of Prednisone. It was literally blinding me. She saved my sight by doing all the tests (field of vision testing) that proved her right. Prednisone can cause glaucoma, which is very insidious as there often are no symptoms before your eyes get harmed. What she and no one else in that State (Alaska) had for me were the new laser surgeries available to treat the kind of glaucoma I got from the Prednisone. I had to literally move down to WA State (where I had relatives) and it was only by accident I found out about the laser surgeries. The kind of glaucoma that high doses of Prednisone gave me is called Open Angle Glaucoma. The laser surgeries can also be repeated. Which was very good news, because I've now had 3 of them. 2 on the eye most affected, and 1 on the other. I now have 2-4 check ups with a glaucoma opthalmologist, yearly. The PMR went into remission, and my raynaulds disappeared too, when I left the cold behind. Though one apt I rented turned out to be on a cement floor so I had to get rugs to cover the linoleum, especially in the bathroom where we all tend to have bare feet at bathtime. There are medication drops for glaucoma too, but I couldn't use those, which is why I learned of the laser surgeries early. They're seriously medically approved procedures, only trained opthamologists do. Good luck.

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@thenazareneshul
I’m sorry you’re going through this. Thank you for sharing because I’m going through the same thing .
My rheumatologist left the medical group and left me on steroids 60 mg and no one to take over my case been through a roller coaster now loosing my eye sight I’m in almost a year in prednisone left on it no need to be in it and no one on the medical group did not pick up my file I feel it’s Mel practice my opinion . I had to taper off myself and niw a new medical group helping me and still loosing vision loss eye pain all that comes with it . But you getting a name behind yours I’m going to let my group know so thank you for sharing.

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