Most people have misconceptions about the causes and symptoms of cataract. Cataract is not a film that covers the eye. This happens not only to aging individuals but also to children and middle-aged individuals.

Cataract is the clouding of the eye’s natural lens. People who have cataract experience blurred vision, sensitivity to the light, poor night vision, double vision in one eye, and they see colors as if they are faded or yellowish.

From eyeSmart:

People who use both inhaled and oral steroids (corticosteroids) may be at increased risk for cataracts, according to a recent study. Many people with asthma rely on inhaled, and sometimes oral, steroids, as do people with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). The study assessed the inhaled and/or oral steroid use and cataract status of more than 3,600 people, following them for up to ten years. Increased cataract risks were found only in patients who, at the start of the study had ever used inhaled steroids, had used oral steroids for at least one month, and had no cataracts. Although only a small number of patients met these criteria, nearly all of them—seven of 10—were found to have cataracts in follow-up exams. You should talk with your doctor if you are prescribed both oral and inhaled steroids because of the potential for increased cataract risk.

According to a study that involved 3,600 patients who are using oral or inhaled steroid medications showed that they are prone to develop cataracts. It revealed that seven out of 10 patients acquired cataracts since they use steroids over a long period of time.

Aside from aging and steroid medications, there are other medicines which can contribute to cataracts such as psoralens, a class of drugs used along with light therapy to treat skin disorders, such as psoriasis; antipsychotic medications and glaucoma medications.

Tags:  cataracts, inhaled steroids, oral steroids, Steroids

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