dozens of steps forward, one step back?

[Andrew MacLean]

At my clinic this week they noticed some inflammation on my PK graft. I guess that will explain the slight vision change in that eye.

The ophthalmologist wasn't sure if it was a sign of rejection but has put me back on steroids (Dexamethasone): four a day for two weeks and two a day for two weeks then return to clinic for reassessment.

I am taking the steroids although I know that they caused my Diabetes.

Nothing is ever simple.

[Anne Klepacz]

Sorry to hear that, Andrew, though it sounds like if it is a rejection, it's been caught early. Here's hoping a short dose of the steroid drops will do the trick. I hadn't realised there could be a connection between steroids and diabetes.
Anne

[Pauly]

Wish you the best Andrew.

[Andrew MacLean]

Anne,

It is quite well documented. The steroids most commonly associated with Diabetes are Dexamethasone and Prednisalone.

Not to worry; we'll soldier on.

@Pauly

Thank you.

[Loopy-Lou]

Hey Andrew sorry to hear this, and me too, I had no idea steroid eye drops could cause diabetes. I hope they get the inflammation under control soon, let us know

[Anne Klepacz]

Well, it looks like the risk is mainly with 'systemic' steroids given for inflammatory conditions - that's injections or pills when the steroids circulate round the body and where the doses given are much higher than in eye drops. Plus eye drops are supposed to stay in the eye and not go into the rest of the body, though I'm not sure I'm convinced that's always true! So I think it would need to be prolonged use of steroid drops at quite high doses. Or perhaps it's one of those cases where they could act as a trigger where there's already a predisposition to diabetes?

[Andrew MacLean]

Anne

I think that other medication I was taking at the time may have 'potentiated' the steroids. Actually, I was taking them for over four years so I figure that counts as prolonged use, but I also understand that it is rare for people using topic steroids to have this sort of side effect.

[Anne Klepacz]

Yes, it's combinations of medicines that can have unexpected consequences. And I'm not sure how good hospitals are at asking us what else we're taking so I guess it's up to us to make sure we tell them.
I hope you'll be able to come off the drops soon.

[space_cadet]

so sorry to hear this Andrew, sadly with KC treatment often appears to like you say be a step forward n couple back, but keep smiling n a positive outlook helps x

[Andrew MacLean]

Today's Clinic: The inflammation on my right graft has disappeared so now I am weaning my eye off steroids. One per day for two weeks then one every other day. IOP is back within the normal ranger (16 in each eye). I go back in three months and have an optometry clinic (where the inflammation was first noted) next month. So all things considered, I'd say this was a good outcome.