Hormone Therapy - Possible link to Cataracts

Good morning Dartmoor 

I don't know if you have read this thread:

 RE: Coming off Abiraterone. 

But Lorraine (BW) says that her husband has the same problems on HT.

Best wishes - Brian.

Hi Dartmoor 

My husband has suddenly developed fast growing Cataracts, his consultant says it's quite unusual for a side effect.  He  is now coming off Abiraterone and Prednisolone for a break. I read the long term use of steroids can cause cataracts. I have also been googling for clues and it does seem there is a slight possibility of HT also causing them. BW has been taking a combo of two types of HT and steroids for two and a half years so that could be the cause? I mean it could have happened anyway, but he is 58. I'm wondering if he had been older it would have been over looked as an age thing. 

Hi,

Not quite in your situation, but I'm about to bergin long-term hormone treatment - following an 18 month course two years ago.  So yes, I've got recurrent prostate cancer......

Anyway, I've noticed that during that time my eyesight has become considerably altered.  Of course, I've been putting it down to my age rather than anythig else, but your comments hav made me sit up.

What's happened with my eyes is something that I'd usually expect over perhaps a 10 year period - my reading glasses have become useless and I'm now using my long-view driving glasses to read with.

So nowhere near as scary as your situation, but thank you so much for raising this matter - I'll watch it carefully and will arange an eye test without delay.

All the best

Chris

I had my cataracts treated in both eyes in 2023, at my latest eye test this year, I informed the optician I was having hormone treatment for prostate cancer, after eye test she said your cataracts are clouding over and need laser treatment, due to facing 3 years of hormone injections not sure if have procedure now or wait incase it causes them to cloud over again.Will need to have a discussion with my optician as my vision is slowly becoming more blurred when reading

Hello Chris (Souwesterly) 

How strange that a post can make you think!!  So I have been reading all these posts about cateracts thinking "that's got sod all to do with me - my eyes are fine".

Think back Brian - I know it's hard, so before Hormone Therapy I was on regular biannual check ups at the optician and most years it was, "small change" no action, come back in 2 years.

Covid arrives along Prostate Cancer, I start on HT and

* The pressure in my eyes rises and I have to go on 6 monthly check ups.

* I need a new prescription and new glasses every year.

The pressure is slowly going down but I am still on 6 monthly check ups.

Is this another side effect of Hormone Therapy - I just thought it was me getting old.

It makes you think ...............

Best wishes - Brian.

Hello Terence (Terence M) 

I can see (no pun intended) a pattern developing here.

Best wishes - Brian.

It would be interesting to find out if any research has ever been done to look into a link between HT and or long term steroid use (hint hint Alwayshope if you have a spare moment).  If so, surely there should be a case for eyesight tests for anyone on such treatments to be free (unless they already are& I'm just being thick again).  No comments please on that last sentiment   

Yes I agree it does make you wonder. 
Also I read (google) which says over 5mg steroids a day makes it more common.  BW has been messing about with his steroids over the last two and a half years, trying to keep them around 5mg for sometime and finally gave in and doubled them 5 months ago. So maybe the 10mg and double HT just tipped it. Or it could just of happened, there’s no real proof?  
His Consultant actually said, ‘we will have to keep our “eye” on it ‘ 

Hello Brian & Lorraine (Buzzers  & BW) 

There's a pretty comprehensive list of folk entitled to free eye tests but I agree all cancer patients should be added regardless of treatment,

NHS Free Eye Tests.

If you live in England with a cancer diagnosis you are entitled to free prescriptions (I know the devolved Nations get them for free!!)

Free Prescriptions if you have a Cancer diagnosis.

I hope this helps everyone.

Best wishes - Brian.

'I couldn't possibly comment' Brian Buzzers . Certainly chronic use of steroids both topical and oral have been associated with cataracts. For levels of 5mg and below the risk is slight but for higher levels over a longer time the risk increases. There is also an increased risk of glaucoma.

https://mft.nhs.uk/app/uploads/sites/2/2018/04/REH-083.pdf

There has also been an evaluation of ADT and cataracts in America on the elderly 65 and above - cheek of it - which shows a slight increase in the incidence of cataracts. Whether it is due to the ADT itself or the side effects it can cause like increased risk of diabetes...... hasn't been clarified.

https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC3792579/#:~:text=The%20side%2Deffects%20associated%20with,adverse%20consequence%20of%20ADT%20use.