EYE SIGHT

WHOM THIS MAY CONCERN;
while i am on prednisone for giant cell arteritis, do i have  a good chance  not to go blind, in one eye or both, what mgs, should one stay at to prevent blindness???

[John C Hagan III, MD, FACS, FAAO]

Go to emedicine.com and read the section on TA.

Your prednisone will be adjusted depending on your sedimentation rate and C-reactive protein and symptoms.

JCH III MD

[ladybugisnot1]

I have been on prednisone for three months and i still have problems with temple pain and eye stress and pain and head pain, my left eye is sore as well, i have gone to the optimaligist and sight is still ok, the optic nerve, but, i don't understand, about the sight, does it go, gradual, or will it all of a sudden just be gone, how long does it take to heal, if it does, or when it does??? will it ever get back to normal?? i'm on 60 mgs. of prednisone to date..my sinius's and face and cheekbones are swollen as well, as well as left eye, around and above it.

[John C Hagan III, MD, FACS, FAAO]

Sorry there's no way to tell you what will happen. TA is notoriously variable in its symptoms. It may not affect the eye at all or it can cause total bilateral blindness.

If you hae not seen a rheumatologist you might ask your MDs to get a consultation.

JCH III MD

[ladybugisnot1]

Hello Dr. John  Hagan
i have gone to local doctor, and from there he phoned the ophthalmologist and he said, as long as the said rate was low, mine was 13, keep on the prednisone and check the  blood level for sugar, , diabetes, as my left eye was going blurry, and when i stay on the computer, the pupil starts to go white, as i lay down and close the eye, it does come back,  to normal, before i was having shooting white lights from that eye, but now its in the centre.. comes and go's with eye stress..
i have developed high blood pressure as well.. they put me on meds, and also a nerve pill, diazipan..it helps somewhat...
have you heard of any one with the centre of the eye(pupil) having this problem..
i thank you for your time and patients with my questions..
ladybug(((carol)))

[John C Hagan III, MD, FACS, FAAO]

Perhaps I am not grasping your explanation but as I understand it "no" I haven't.

JCH I IMD