1. < Polymyalgia Rheumatica (PMR)
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Cataract Surgery during active PmR?

Posted by pawprintpeg @pawprintpeg, Jul 9 7:17am

Should I have concerns about having cataract surgery while PMR is now untreated and I’m suffering with painful inflammation after tapering off prednisone. I assume my cortisol is trying to make a recovery so I’m still out of hormonal balance, and I wonder if my eyeballs get inflamed as well? Have you had cataract surgery. Please let me know how it goes. I want to buy the super lenses but I’m afraid of something being adversely affected by this dang PMR. 👁️ 💕

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claudiarelady | @claudiarelady | Jul 10 9:03am

I had cataract surgery 2 months ago with my PMR still active. I am on 4 mg of prednisone and my eye surgeon knew about it and was not concerned. My results from the surgery have been wonderful and did nor experience any complications. Good luck!

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caroljeand | @caroljeand | Jul 10 9:47am

I had surgery in the spring but was off prednisone by then, only on Kevzara. Had to stop Kevzara 2 weeks before and after surgeries. Surgery went fine.

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papas | @papas | Jul 11 8:21am

I was in the middle of a prednisone taper and my rheumatologist advised I pause the taper routine for two weeks around the surgery. Everything went well and I continued the taper routine after the cataract surgeon cleared me.

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grumpa | @grumpa | Jul 12 7:10am

I have had PMR for a long time and have had several successful surgeries while on a lower dose 5mg prednisone. The last 6 months I’ve had cataract surgery on both eyes. Originally I nervous about having it done, and was only going to have one eye done and wait until I “really” needed the done. Afterwards I thought, at my age why wait. The results are great. I couldn’t believe how much brighter things are.

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jfwfeis | @jfwfeis | Jul 12 1:51pm

I had both eyes done sequentially before I had a diagnosis but clearly was PMR. No problems. Now that I am diagnosed and on Prednisone I have a little bit of a dry eye problem, but using drops once or twice a day it is OK. No idea whether the cataract surgery or the Prednisone play any role in my drier than previously eyes.

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katenz | @katenz | Jul 12 2:07pm

I also had my cataract surgeries done on low dose prednisone- I was told anything under 10mg is where they want you to be at (and I guess the lower the better). Mine all went really well and as someone else here said- it is so good once it is done!

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pegpete | @pegpete | Jul 13 9:29am
In reply to @grumpa "I have had PMR for a long time and have had several successful surgeries while on..." + (show)
Profile picture for grumpa @grumpa

I have had PMR for a long time and have had several successful surgeries while on a lower dose 5mg prednisone. The last 6 months I’ve had cataract surgery on both eyes. Originally I nervous about having it done, and was only going to have one eye done and wait until I “really” needed the done. Afterwards I thought, at my age why wait. The results are great. I couldn’t believe how much brighter things are.

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@grumpa I had both eyes done in March. I’m so happy I did. It is the easiest surgery I’ve ever had done. If you have cataracts and living in a cloud, get them done.

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cccdcjdm | @cccdcjdm | Jul 20 9:11am

I am having cataract surgery next month, when I will be on about 7 mg of prednisone (tapering down). My cataract doctor said the prednisone will not affect my eye, so hoping for the best! Glad to hear so many of you had good experiences with cataract surgery.

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caroljeand | @caroljeand | Jul 21 7:12am
In reply to @jfwfeis "I had both eyes done sequentially before I had a diagnosis but clearly was PMR. No..." + (show)
Profile picture for jfwfeis @jfwfeis

I had both eyes done sequentially before I had a diagnosis but clearly was PMR. No problems. Now that I am diagnosed and on Prednisone I have a little bit of a dry eye problem, but using drops once or twice a day it is OK. No idea whether the cataract surgery or the Prednisone play any role in my drier than previously eyes.

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@jfwfeis
I have dry eye before and after cataract surgery. I was told that the surgery could make it worse. One of my eyes is worse but I try to keep it lubricated with drops.

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sandiw77 | @sandiw77 | Jul 21 7:14am
In reply to @jfwfeis "I had both eyes done sequentially before I had a diagnosis but clearly was PMR. No..." + (show)
Profile picture for jfwfeis @jfwfeis

I had both eyes done sequentially before I had a diagnosis but clearly was PMR. No problems. Now that I am diagnosed and on Prednisone I have a little bit of a dry eye problem, but using drops once or twice a day it is OK. No idea whether the cataract surgery or the Prednisone play any role in my drier than previously eyes.

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Hi @jfwfeis,
I wanted to share what my ophthalmologist told me. He indicated that Prednisone had caused my eyes to slightly bulge and that my eyes were dry due to the fact that I was not closing my eye completely when I blink or even when I sleep and that was causing my eyes to dry. That made so much sense to me because I also thought that my eyes were slightly swollen. Wondering if that could have occurred with you also? I’m still on 8 mg of Prednisone and am hoping to be completely free by Christmas! Blessings!❤️

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