Do vision side effects from Prednisone disappear after going off the drug?

That's interesting to know---that the cataract was speeded up on the drug. I have one also and while I was checked in December, it would probably be worthwhile to check again.  Really, it's all about knowing what questions to ask, is it not? 😉  Thx for your input--- much appreciated.

It is more likely that pred accelerates the tiny seed of a cataract that hadn't been identified earlier than that it actually causes it - although there IS one form of cataract that is due to pred. 

And while it is only a short time since it was checked - there are people on the forums who have gone from OK to needing a cataract removed in just a few months.

However - I forgot to mention in my other post that dry eyes can lead to blurriness so that is also something to check with your optician. You can get various products that function as "artificial tears". It is quite important as perpetually dry eyes can lead to damage to the cornea - and it is not uncommon in autoimmune disorders.

Thanks so much for your input.  I'm at 10 mg and moving toward 9 and on down, but fearing I might have to go back up, so its good to know that the vision problem is probably temporary.  Good luck with your journey as well.

I have Giant Cell Arteritis.  It might have sounded like my vision was worse while driving than it actually is---I would not endanger other people or myself  if I really couldn't see!!  I was considering the "readers" for books and computer use.  A less expensive proposition than getting new glasses, but  if the distance range becomes worse,  I'll get my prescription changed.  Again. 

What I am primarily concerned about is whether the vision problems are temporary or not.  And from what I've heard from people here---they are for the most part temporary or at least can be remedied via prescription change later.

Additionally, it is troubling  at the moment  that at 10 mg, I am waking in the morning with headaches which dissipate after I take the medication, but I generally feel more of the GCA symptoms now than before.  Might this mean I will have to be stepped up again?  I know this question can't be answered, but I am curious as to whether other people with GCA have had to return to a higher dose.

Wonderful that you lost all that redistribution of fat that Prednisone causes.  I can't wait---I've gained about 10 lbs and despite trying to keep the carb level down, its nearly impossible to lose.  So hard to resist wine, cheese & crackers at the end of the day!!

Thank you, Eileen, for your input.  Much appreciaited

In the first 18 months after diagnosis of GCA it is common for patients to experience flares. And flares are mostly due to reducing too far or too fast. And yes - there are a LOT of people on the forums who have had to increase the dose after inducing a flare. Going slow does reduce that risk.

The wine is fine and so is the cheese - leave out the crackers like I do!

I have GCA and like you was on 10mg pred when I felt a return of symptoms of GCA and PMR. My rhumy dismissed it saying he had got me out of danger re GCA and the pain was more fibromyalgia which I knew wasn't the case, so I took it upon myself to increase to 40mg for 5 days and it's done the trick, PMR pain gone and GCA symptoms gone! It wasn't difficult except for increase in hot flushes AND extreme blurred vision!! As soon as I finished the 40mg the blurred vision went back to what it was at 10mg and I'm now reducing to 9 1/2 and so far all is good. I was afraid of having to go back up but having done it for the 5 days I wouldn't be nervous of it again. I literally felt nothing on the day I returned to 10mg, not a single withdrawal symptom which I was obviously delighted at! Now another thing I was told, and I know was also a cause in my case, is too much sugar in your diet can cause blurred vision, so maybe have a look at the amount of sugar you consume and if you do eat alot, cut back on it and should make a difference, it definitely did for me! Good luck with it all x

With the added advantage that cutting sugar (in particular) and all processed carbs not only helps reduce the risk of developing pred-induced diabetes but also helps avoid weight gain when on pred. Win-win-win... 

And forgot - had your rheumy never learnt that GCA doesn't go away entirely? If you reduce too low and the autoimmune bit is going on - it will come back! He got you "out of danger"? He's not god even if he thinks he is...

When I was sent to eye specialist, told him I had tried everything for my dry eyes and nothing worked, in fact they were so dry, some drops were painful....he said the best thing is bathe the eyes with  hot water twice daily, and if really sore....add baby shampoo!  I must say this has been as effective as anything I have tried....not a cure, but eases it....

A couple of people on another forum were recommending Eye Bags for dry eye - very easy to use.

Google eye bags for dry eyes

I never heard about a conflict between omega 3 (fish oil) and pred.  Is this really a problem .  Btw I don't take fish oil, but I'd like to know.

Well that's what my eye doctor told me so I guess so. I would sure like to find out that he is wrong. Because my eyes were so much better on Omega 3. But then again, I don't know if it's the lack of Omega 3 or the PMR that's making my dry eyes so bad. I've had the blood test for sjogren syndrom too because I also have a very dry mouth but it came back negative and I don't want to do the lip biopsy. So anyway in answer to your question, yes, that's what I have been told by a doctor. If you find out anything different please let me know.

Eileen thank you for the info. I will look it up. My eye doctor did say that there is a oily substance that our eyes secrete. And it helps to put a warm compress over your eyes a couple of times a day to help get that oily sustance moving. Apparently it keeps the moisture on the eye.

I know some one else was having problems with some side effects and it was because he/she was taking omega 3 supplements, but I'm almost certain it was neither prednisone or anything to do with eyes.  I'll see if I can find out what the interaction was.  I believe in that case the omega 3 was amplifying the drug's effects.

Can't find the post but I think it was something more like thyroid or blood pressure or that sort of thing.  Definitely not pred.

Meibomian gland dysfunction is probably what he's talking about. The glands secrete an oily substance into tear. If they aren't doing that, the tears are thin and don't adhere to the surface of the eye properly. (I liken it to the difference between thick Domestos brand bleach and the thin cheap stuff and it sticking to the side of the toilet.)

https://patient.info/health/blepharitis-leaflet

The University of Maryland Medical Center says:

"If you are currently being treated with any of the following medications, you should not use omega-3 fatty acid supplements, including eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA), docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), and alpha-linolenic acid (ALA), without first talking to your health care provider.

Blood-thinning medications -- Omega-3 fatty acids may increase the effects of blood thinning medications, including aspirin, warfarin (Coumadin), and clopedigrel (Plavix). While the combination of aspirin and omega-3 fatty acids may actually be helpful under certain circumstances (such as in heart disease), they should only be taken together under the guidance and supervision of a health care provider.

Blood sugar lowering medications -- Taking omega-3 fatty acid supplements may increase fasting blood sugar levels. Use with caution if taking blood sugar lowering medications, such as glipizide (Glucotrol and Glucotrol XL), glyburide (Micronase or Diabeta), glucophage (Metformin), or insulin, as omega-3 fatty acid supplements may increase your need for the medication(s).

Cyclosporine -- Taking omega-3 fatty acids during cyclosporine (Sandimmune) therapy may reduce toxic side effects, such as high blood pressure and kidney damage, associated with this medication in transplant patients.

Etretinate and topical steroids -- The addition of omega-3 fatty acids (specifically EPA) to the drug therapy etretinate (Tegison) and topical corticosteroids may improve symptoms of psoriasis.

Cholesterol-lowering medications -- Following certain nutritional guidelines, including increasing the amount of omega-3 fatty acids in your diet and reducing the omega-6 to omega-3 ratio, may allow a group of cholesterol lowering medications known as "statins", including atorvastatin (Liptor), lovastatin (Mevacor), and simvastatin (Zocor) to work more effectively.

Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) -- In an animal study, treatment with omega-3 fatty acids reduced the risk of ulcers from nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), including ibuprofen (Motrin or Advil) and naproxen (Alleve or Naprosyn). More research is needed to evaluate whether omega-3 fatty acids would have the same effects in people."

You may be on other medication that makes omega-3's inadvisable but there is no reason I could find for pred.

I posted on another forum about a product called Eye Bags for dry eye - heated in the microwave and used regularly they help unblock the glands - in the same way as war flannels do but far more convenient!

I have a nurse that contacts me once a month from my insurance company (Medicare) to see if I need anything. Well she called me today and so I asked her to look into this too. I'll share when she gets back with me.

Heck - "war flannels" - WET flannels of course...

I did wonder what a microwave free person such as myself could do.

Someone put a link for ones you heat in hot water - google "EyeSoothe blepharitis eye mask"

That reminds me of the hair rollers you could heat up in water!! 😳 I phoned the local pharmacy and the pharmacist suggested using warm flannels but would order EyeSoothe if that didn't help.

After googling that I realized that the eye mask my daughter gave me years ago from the body shop can be heated as well as cooled.  I keep it in the fridge for quick relief for headache, when I remember to use it.