Cataract Surgery and Scleroderma

Question: I am 51 yrs old and have been on prednisone therapy for the past 3 years, due to Scleroderma and dermatamyositis. About 1 ½ yrs ago I started to notice a problem and was diagnosed with cataracts in both eyes. I was not really happy with the cataract surgeon that I saw at a large eye center. Also, had LASIK about 9 years ago. And, would the Scleroderma or dermatamyositis cause any issues with cataract surgery?


Answer: Cataract formation secondary to prolonged use of steroids is a known and expected side effect that increases with dosage. Generally, low doses of steroids daily, say 10 mg or less per day, may only increase the risk of Cataracts by 10% or so, the risk may increase to 30% if you take 10-15 mg daily and even to 80% if you need to take more than 15 mg per day. However, there really shouldn't be any unusual complications with Cataract Surgery secondary to the autoimmune issues you describe, although you may experience some longer than usual dry eye symptoms. Now, the fact that you have had LASIK does mean that there is a need to take very careful measurements for your intraocular lens implant (IOL) as previous LASIK surgery can make these measurements more complex. Your situation would be best handled by a top Cataract Surgeon who is also a LASIK Surgeon. In addition, if at all possible it would be quite helpful if you could provide your preoperative examination results, measurements and notes to the cataract and Refractive Surgeon you ultimately choose.


Important Note: The information presented on the About Cataract Surgery Blog or provided in response to a request for information in the Ask Cataract Surgeons section on www.aboutcataractsurgery.com is not intended to diagnose or treat eye problems, eye conditions or eye diseases including appropriateness of treatment, risks, complications or side effects as related to Cataracts, Cataract Surgery of Lens Implants. In particular a response to an inquiry made on the Ask Cataract Surgeons section of www.aboutcataractsurgery.com is not meant to take the place of the professional medical care provided by your eye doctor, ophthalmologist and Cataract Surgeon. Contacting us via e-mail or any other means is not a substitute for medical care.

Cataract Risk, Diet and Nutrition

Eating meat and animal products may increase your risk of developing Cataracts according to a study published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition (March 23, 2011). Findings from the European Prospective Investigation in Cancer and Nutrition Study (EPIC) demonstrated that eating meat was positively associated with the risk of Cataracts. Participants in the study were divided into six diet groups: highest meat consumption, mid-range meat consumption, least meat consumption, fish-eaters, vegetarians, and vegans. Compared with those who ate the most meat, the risks for developing cataracts after adjusting for multiple confounders including age and smoking were as follows: mid-range meat consumption participants decreased their Cataract risk by 4 percent, least meat consumption group decreased their Cataract risk by 15 percent, fish-eaters decreased their Cataract risk by 21 percent, vegetarians decreased their Cataract risk by 30 percent, and those who followed a vegan diet decreased their Cataract risk by 40 percent.

Carbohydrate Intake Linked to Higher Cataract Risk in Women

According to a study from the Melbourne Visual Impairment Project and published in Investigative Ophthalmology & Visual Science, women who consume higher amounts of carbohydrates appear to have a higher risk for cortical and nuclear Cataract formation. After adjusting for risk factors and multivariate analysis, women in the highest quartile of total carbohydrate consumption had a significantly risk of having a pure cortical Cataract. The researchers concluded that managing carbohydrate intake could prolong the overall health of the Crystalline Lens, however additional study is warranted.