Have rash from prednisolone acetate eye drops?

[MarSharky]

I was finally able to find a surgical center to perform my cataract surgery (severe anemia).  Began the moxifloxacin drops before surgery, no problems.  After surgery, I started the Ketorolac and the prednisolone drops.  Surgery was late Wednesday, took drops once, then on Friday morning, I awakened to a rash on both forearms that itch like mad and are on fire.  While the Ketorolac burns/stings quite a bit each time I use it, I do not have any known allergies to NSAIDs other than naproxene, which makes me nausea, stomach pain, and vomiting.  I have never taken a steroid before for anything.  Also starting on Thursday after the surgery, my hair, which is normally very frizzy and dry, has suddenly become oily.  I have been washing my hair every day, tried different shampoos, and it is still oily.  I still have the second eye to go, and I'm not even a week after the first eye.  Is this rash something I need to mention to the opth?

[John C Hagan III, MD, FACS, FAAO]

You need to call your ophthalmologist as soon as you read this.   All surgeons are supposed to have 24 hr on call availability. If its in the middle of the nigh you can wait till early tomorrow morning. It definitely needs to be reported promptly to the surgeon. it would be highly, highly unusual for steroid eye drops to cause these symptoms and much more like NSAID, antibiotic or something you were given or injected with at the time of surgery.   Don't do the second eye until you are out of the wood and happy with the first eye.