Kickas.org Forums Ankylosing Spondylitis General Discussion #1 AS Web Support Group Can a cataract shrink?

In previous visits to the ophthalmologist, he has said that I was developing a small Predforte-induced cataract. Today, when I went in, he said that he didn't see any cataracts in either eye. My iritis has been a lot quieter in the past year so I haven't been on the drops too much. I know he doesn't remember me from one time to the other -- it's the eye center for the city -- and he saw me between surgeries today so I didn't bother asking. Can they shrink? Go away completely?

Thanks! Paula

Hi Paula, I googled 'cataract AND shrink' and got a ton of stuff that applied to procedures used on cataracts. However, interestingly, I also found this, which sounds similar to your case.

Prednisone Cataract Occular Archives

Hope it helps.

Hugs,

Hi Kat,

Thanks for googling and for your reply. So, it sounds like it is possible for them to shrink. Now if I can just stay iritis free for the most part -- that will be great!! I've had a mild flare this week but I started drops right away. I missed a couple doses of sulfasalazine last week, and I've not been sticking to the NSD/LSD at all lately even though I know it makes a difference. Those things combined -- and wham -- I'm into a flare. I know better, obviously.

Again, thanks for googling. I could have done that but I guess I was too lazy. And it's always interesting to see if others here at KA have had the same experience.

Paula

Hi Paula,

I never heard of cataracts shrinking either. How wonderful for you! You see Dr. Scripture, don't you? I always felt that he was in a hurry and I wasn't comfortable with asking him too many questions, though I know we shouldn't feel that way--they work for us, right?

Less than two months until our visit to Indiana...hope we can get together!

Connie

Hi Connie,

Yes, it was Dr. Scripture -- and he does always seem in a hurry. The only other doctor there that is part of the Sagamore Health Network is Dr. Wu -- and quite honestly, I get the feeling that he has very little experience with iritis. Neither of them remember me from one time to the other. The doctor that I like the best is Dr. Risch -- but she's not in the Network. She's the one that met me early on a Sunday morning at the office just to check on my eyes when I was in a really bad flare two years ago. And she seemed thorough and interested.

I'll PM you about a visit! It would be great to see you and Drew!!

Paula

Hi Paula,

I've PM'd you about our visit.

After Dr. Scripture dumped me (they said he was trying to lower his case load to concentrate on surgery patients) I saw Dr. Tim Beatty in Connersville; don't know if he ever sees patients in Richmond or not. I was concerned at first because he is an optometrist, not an opthalmologist, but I was very impressed by him and never felt rushed. Besides, he's a cutie! (Looks like he's about 12!) Of course it doesn't help you if he's not in your insurance network. Seems weird that not all doctors in the same practice are in the same network, doesn't it?

Connie

Hi Connie,

I don't think Dr. Beatty works here in Richmond. When I first started having trouble with iritis, I was going to my optomestrist here (Dr. Bailey) -- who I think is great. He recognized the iritis immediately and instituted proper treatment and then tapering off, but it always felt strange to go there with a disease problem. The staff definitely was not used to it, and I had to answer the same eye-exam questions every time I went in -- which got rather old when you go for the flare and then one or two or three follow up visits. Dr. Bailey actually seemed relieved when I started going to the Richmond Eye Care Center -- even though it was one of his comments that helped spur me on to get my diagnosis since I'd been wondering for awhile if I had an auto-immune disease (it didn't seem exactly like my brother's Reiters but it was something!)-- and he said that if I kept getting iritis, we might want to consider the possiblity that I have an auto-immune disease. I went home and got on the computer that day, and my symptoms matched AS to a T! What's nice about the Richmond Eye Center is that when I call and say I have iritis, they know exactly what I need in terms of appointment, etc. To be honest, this last flare was so mild -- and Dr. Scripture has mentioned to me that I should just start taking the drops as soon as I begin having symptoms -- and I know how to taper off -- that I wouldn't even bother going in except for the potential problem with eye pressure that needs to be monitored. I caught this last one so quickly that Dr. Scripture told me not to bother with a follow up but just to taper off the Predforte. And that's fine with me -- spending $45 for 3 minutes of his time isn't thrilling -- and if something is wrong, I'll hightail it back to the office.

I'm looking forward to your visit in August!

Paula