I was diagnosed with antisynthetase syndrome Feb. a year ago. Treated with a high dose of predisone and Imuran which I have now tapered off to a low dose of each. I have had lose of hair, shingles, bruising along with other minor problems. What concern me now is the vision in my right eye. Since this spring I have lost distance vision in that eye (large amount) as well as field vision. I have eye aches and headaches. I am currently being treated for low tension glaucoma. I am greatly concerned over going blind. My question to you is: Have any of you had any problems like this? and what was done about it? My doctor is at a lose because my symtoms do not fit any pattern. Please respond if there is something you think about my problem. martha43

Martha, Sorry to hear you're having vision problems. I tell you, some days the side effects from treatment give me a harder time than the disease. I have been on a similar drug protocol and have some problems with my right eye being not able to focus as well but we think it's due to having shingles inflaming the nerves in the right side of my face for the past 3 months. So far we've tried antivirals with no luck. Neurontin does help knock back the constant burning sensation and I do notice that my eye is less bothersome on those days. I know several folks who have developed cataracts from prednisone use. I hope you find some answers soon. Kelly

Hi Martha I have had problems with my vision, especially long distance and think it is related to my doses of pred. As the pred drops then my vision improves. Having recently increased my pred dose I have noticed my eyesight deteriorating again, getting more blurry. I have also had problems with poor vision in poor lighting with one eye being very cloudy in dim light. I am hoping that as the pred reduces things will get better. i have had my eyes tested and they didn't find anything. I too, am worried about cataracts developing from pred use, and is part of my love-hate relationship with this drug. I was previously on Imuran, but have recently started Cellcept, and the symptoms only seem to correlate to the dose of pred rather than the other immunosuppressants. Hope you get some answers, our eyesight is so precious Alison

I too use prednisone and imuran. I occassionally have an eye pain in my right eye but my vision seems fine. I had shingles in March which were around my eye, not sure if this contributed to my eye pains. Eye doctor said it is OK. I did develop a cloudy cataract from my high dose steroids, but it is not cloudy enough to remove and replace with an artificial lens. I used 3% topical lidocaine for theshingles pain which helped. Hope all heal. and I pray none of us lose our vison. Barbara

thank both of you for your imput....This eye problem is one of the scariest that I have had. I really feel that it is related to the antisynthetase syndrone as it is so systemic. I am going to another specialist in a couple of week and perhaps he can help me. Dim light is also a problem as I see better in bright light. My right eye is the one that is really affected. Thanks again. martha

Hello everyone, I have not been on this website for a while because I did not feel that I could contribute any more useful information. I have been quite well for a while and am just taking the Plaquenil at the moment. On reading these posts it rang a bell with me as I am also having vision problems. Also, in dim light with blurry vision which seems to get worse as the day goes on. I see an opthalmologist every 6 months and he doesn't seem to think that there is anything really wrong except for my age?? and maybe from when I took the prednisone. I did mention to him that if I fall asleep in the chair when I come to, I have double vision for a while. (Caterracts I wondered because those were the symptoms that my husband had before he had his cateracts removed.) The opthalmologist referred me to an orhoptiste who found that my right eye wandered off to the right, so I had eye re-education training for 12 sessions, which helped a bit. I am still worried about my eyes because as you so rightly say our eyesight is prescious. Good luck to everyone and I hope that your syptoms improve for all of you very soon. Deaks

I was on 60mg of prednisone for 18 months. I developed cataracts in both eyes and had cataract surgery in December 2009. The eye deterioration came on rapidly. I first noticed my vision changing in August 2009. By the end of October when I finally saw my opthamologist, my vision was blurry, and hazy like looking through a very dirty window on a cloudy day. My opthamologist took one look in my eyes and said immediately that I had classic prednisone induced cataracts: they apparently start in the middle of the lens and spread outward. I suggest seeking a second opinion from someone familiar with the effects of steriod use on the eye. My vision is near perfect now. I couldn't believe how well I could see when they took the bandages off! I am currently down to 10mg/daily of prednisone along with plaquinil and cellcept. Doctors don't know everything, and the good ones are the ones who realize that and try to get you to someone who knows more!

Hi Martha I had steroid induced glaucoma when I was on 60mg a day. My eye pressures reduced with my steroid dose. I do find that my vision is not good in poor light and my husband always moans because i've got all the lights on in the daytime. I get my eyes checked regularly I do feel as though something is floating in my left eye but the optician isn't to concerned and it's not bothering me to much. Do get a second opinion if you are worried. Take care Katrina x