Are there any treatment options available to stop the progress of cataract ?

Question

Hi doctor,

My mother is suffering from rapidly progressive kidney disease, for which she has been on Prednisone for the last four months. As a side effect of the drug, she is developing cataracts in her eyes. She usually wears prescription glasses, but recently her eyesight improved, and upon examination, her doctor said she is developing cataracts although it is minor at present. They prescribed some eye drops and watched for any changes to see if she would require any surgery. Are there any treatment options available to stop the progress of cataracts or treat it without surgery? Thanks.

Answer 1

Hello,

Welcome to icliniq.com.

I understand your concerns. One of the side effects of steroids is cataract formation. As you said, it is in the early stage, and it need not be operated. It may take years to become a mature cataract. As for the prevention of cataracts: there are no proven methods or preventive drugs to stop the progression. Surgery is the only option available till now. There are a few eye drops containing potassium iodide and calcium chloride (brand name CATINA), which may have some beneficial effects. You can try them. Kindly share pictures of her eyes or old documents for more suggestions. I hope I have addressed your concerns. Feel free to reach out if you have any further questions. Thank you.