Cataracts????

  My vision was not so great on tx but I decided to wait to see the eye Dr. after all the meds were out of my system. Well, she said that she could not correct my vision with different lenses because I have I have cataracts! Since I did not have them a year ago when I saw her she thinks that it may be a side effect of the drugs.  Has anyone got cataracts from tx. I never heard anyone mention it before.Well, I am having surgery on Feb. 23rd.    -Libby

[Bill1954]

Hi Libby,

I’ve never heard of cataracts as a result of interferon therapy. This is from Schering-Plough’s (Merck) prescribing info page:

“Ophthalmologic disorders

Decrease or loss of vision, retinopathy including macular edema, retinal artery or vein thrombosis, retinal hemorrhages and cotton wool spots, optic neuritis, and papilledema may be induced or aggravated by treatment with peg-intron alpha 2b or other alpha interferons. All patients should receive an eye examination at baseline. Patients with preexisting disorders (e.g. diabetic or hypertensive retinopathy) should receive periodic ophthalmologic exams during interferon alpha treatment. Any patient who develops ocular symptoms should receive a prompt and complete eye examination. Pegintron alpha 2b should be discontinued in patients who develop new or worsening ophthalmologic disorders.”

www.spfiles.com/pipeg-intron.pdf

I’m unsure if the data above is all inclusive, so you might want to look a bit further. Gosh, good luck with the surgery, and let us know how things go-

--Bill

[Bill1954]

Hi Libby,

I’ve never heard of cataracts as a result of interferon therapy. This is from Schering-Plough’s (Merck) prescribing info page:

“Ophthalmologic disorders

Decrease or loss of vision, retinopathy including macular edema, retinal artery or vein thrombosis, retinal hemorrhages and cotton wool spots, optic neuritis, and papilledema may be induced or aggravated by treatment with peg-intron alpha 2b or other alpha interferons. All patients should receive an eye examination at baseline. Patients with preexisting disorders (e.g. diabetic or hypertensive retinopathy) should receive periodic ophthalmologic exams during interferon alpha treatment. Any patient who develops ocular symptoms should receive a prompt and complete eye examination. Pegintron alpha 2b should be discontinued in patients who develop new or worsening ophthalmologic disorders.”

www.spfiles.com/pipeg-intron.pdf

I’m unsure if the data above is all inclusive, so you might want to look a bit further. Gosh, good luck with the surgery, and let us know how things go-

--Bill

[ejoli]

   Hey Bill,
           Thanks for the info.  I don't know if the meds can cause this but I know steroids can. I was on  high dose steroids when I was misdiagnosed but that was 7 years ago and these have developed in the past year. I guess I will report it to the trial people anyway.                                       Take care,    -Libby

[frijole]

This is awful, Libby.  What is your vision?  It reinforces the position that everyone should get an eye examination prior to treatment so they have a baseline for comparison.   Do you ahve to have both eyes done?  If so are you doing; one at a time?

I do think you should report it to the trial people.  If this could possibly be a side effect from Boceprevir, it really needs to be reported.  I am like you -- I don't think it could be from steroid use 7 years ago, but perhaps that was the start.  Cataracts are a hardening of the lens that most of us have when we age - - - and you know just how much this treatment ages us.

I can have my husband make you a walking stick out of sotol (cactus) -- he makes great ones-- and we can paint the tip red, if you need.  (Ha ha -- laugh --- )  Hope you aren't doing too much driving.


frijojle

[ejoli]

   No, I'm not driving much.  I have always had glasses and my last prescription a year ago was 20/3.75   I might not need glasses at all after surgery. I do them one at a time with 3-4 weeks
in between. I don't think it is a big deal. (the surgery)

              It's always something huh!   -Libby

[ejoli]

   No thanks on the walking stick.....That's what grandchildren are for.  (:

[frijole]

Man, Libby, guess you are not reading too many books right now, are you.

Everyone I know who has had the surgery is very happy about it.

Kathy