eagan@phoenix.UUCP (05/24/84)
Pat: I have had my eye infection for almost 7 weeks now. I finally decided to try the perscription my eye doctor recommended since it was getting to the point where I almost couldnt see anymore. My eye was really bad red. Some days it seemed better and then suddenly it would blow up again. Unfortunately, I noticed on the label of the drops that it has the ingredient prednisone. That's the drug you said made your friend go blind. Needless to say, I am very worried. Please tell me, did a doctor specifically say that that drug is the couase of your friend's blindess? How long and how much of the drug did your friend take? Why is it particularly bad for the eyes? My solution is 1/8 of 1%, and I am supposed to take it for 1 week. Does the drug ruin your eyes right away? Or does it have long- term effects? Please respond soon. Also, please post your answers to net.med since I some reason am not receiveing all outside mail. Thanks alot. Marianne Eagan (201) 576-6248
dyer@wivax.UUCP (Stephen Dyer) (05/26/84)
It's probably a good question to ask why you went for (up to) seven weeks before using the eyedrops your doctor prescribed for your eye infection! How, pray tell, is a visit to your doctor going to help at all, if you don't follow the instructions she gives you? Ideally, you should be able to ask your doctor the very same questions that you sent out to the impersonal, unlicensed net. If not, you should investigate getting another doctor! Taking someone's anecdotal reports of side-effects as a reason to stop or avoid treatment is a very bad idea. All treatments have risks, and occasionally a treatment may have adverse reactions. In the case of prednisone eye drops, these have very specific indications and contraindications. Misuse of them UNDER CERTAIN CIRCUMSTANCES can damage one's eyes. More usually, when used properly according to a doctor's prescription, they can reduce the inflammation enough to allow your body to get on with healing. On the other hand, I can think of something sure to damage your eyes--letting a severe eye infection go untreated. Walk, don't run, back to your original doctor (or a new one, if you choose), mention your apprehensions, and if it has been a long time since you first got the prescription, get examined again. If the infection has gone on a long time since a treatment was prescribed, the doctor might possibly want to change the it. -- /Steve Dyer decvax!bbncca!sdyer sdyer@bbncca