Steroid-induced Glaucoma: An Avoidable Irreversible Blindness

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ABSTRACT

Steroids are a group of anti-inflammatory drugs, commonly used to treat ocular and systemic conditions. Unmonitored use of steroids especially in eye drop formulations is common in situations when it is easily available over-the-counter, resulting in undesirable side effects.

Among the ocular side effects, cataract and glaucoma are common. Steroid-induced ocular hypertension was reported in 1950, when long-term use of systemic steroid was shown to increase the intraocular pressure (IOP). Chronic administration of steroids in any form with raised IOP can cause optic neuropathy resulting in steroid-induced glaucoma.

This review describes the pathophysiology and epidemiology of steroid-induced glaucoma, recognition of side effects, and principles of management. The purpose is to familiarize all clinicians with the potential dangers of administering steroids without monitoring the eye and the dangers of irreversible blind -ness in some instances of habitual self-prescription by patients.

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Phulke S, Kaushik S, Kaur S, Pandav SS. Steroid-induced Glaucoma: An Avoidable Irreversible Blindness. J Curr Glaucoma Pract 2017;11(2):67-72.

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Most cited references 66

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Dexamethasone intravitreal implant in patients with macular edema related to branch or central retinal vein occlusion twelve-month study results.

Julia A Haller, Francesco Bandello, Rubens Belfort … (2011)

To evaluate the safety and efficacy of 1 or 2 treatments with dexamethasone intravitreal implant (DEX implant) over 12 months in eyes with macular edema owing to branch or central retinal vein occlusion (BRVO or CRVO). Two identical, multicenter, prospective studies included a randomized, 6-month, double-masked, sham-controlled phase followed by a 6-month open-label extension. We included 1256 patients with vision loss owing to macular edema associated with BRVO or CRVO. At baseline, patients received DEX implant 0.7 mg (n = 421), DEX implant 0.35 mg (n = 412), or sham (n = 423) in the study eye. At day 180, patients could receive DEX implant 0.7 mg if best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) was 250 μm. The primary outcome for the open-label extension was safety; BCVA was also evaluated. At day 180, 997 patients received open-label DEX implant. Except for cataract, the incidence of ocular adverse events was similar in patients who received their first or second DEX implant. Over 12 months, cataract progression occurred in 90 of 302 phakic eyes (29.8%) that received 2 DEX implant 0.7 mg injections versus 5 of 88 sham-treated phakic eyes (5.7%); cataract surgery was performed in 4 of 302 (1.3%) and 1 of 88 (1.1%) eyes, respectively. In the group receiving two 0.7-mg DEX implants (n = 341), a ≥ 10-mmHg intraocular pressure (IOP) increase from baseline was observed in (12.6% after the first treatment, and 15.4% after the second). The IOP increases were usually transient and controlled with medication or observation; an additional 10.3% of patients initiated IOP-lowering medications after the second treatment. A ≥ 15-letter improvement in BCVA from baseline was achieved by 30% and 32% of patients 60 days after the first and second DEX implant, respectively. Among patients with macular edema owing to BRVO or CRVO, single and repeated treatment with DEX implant had a favorable safety profile over 12 months. In patients who qualified for and received 2 DEX implant injections, the efficacy and safety of the 2 implants were similar with the exception of cataract progression. Proprietary or commercial disclosure may be found after the references. Copyright © 2011 American Academy of Ophthalmology. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

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Descemet's stripping endothelial keratoplasty: safety and outcomes: a report by the American Academy of Ophthalmology.

W Barry Lee, Deborah S Jacobs, David Musch … (2009)

To review the published literature on safety and outcomes of Descemet's stripping endothelial keratoplasty (DSEK) for the surgical treatment of endothelial diseases of the cornea. Peer-reviewed literature searches were conducted in PubMed and the Cochrane Library with the most recent search in February 2009. The searches yielded 2118 citations in English-language journals. The abstracts of these articles were reviewed and 131 articles were selected for possible clinical relevance, of which 34 were determined to be relevant to the assessment objectives. The most common complications from DSEK among reviewed reports included posterior graft dislocations (mean, 14%; range, 0%-82%), followed by endothelial graft rejection (mean, 10%; range, 0%-45%), primary graft failure (mean, 5%; range, 0%-29%), and iatrogenic glaucoma (mean, 3%; range, 0%-15%). Average endothelial cell loss as measured by specular microscopy ranged from 25% to 54%, with an average cell loss of 37% at 6 months, and from 24% to 61%, with an average cell loss of 42% at 12 months. The average best-corrected Snellen visual acuity (mean, 9 months; range, 3-21 months) ranged from 20/34 to 20/66. A review of postoperative refractive results found induced hyperopia ranging from 0.7 to 1.5 diopters (D; mean, 1.1 D), with minimal induced astigmatism ranging from -0.4 to 0.6 D and a mean refractive shift of 0.11 D. A review of graft survival found that clear grafts at 1 year ranged from 55% to 100% (mean, 94%). The evidence reviewed is supportive of DSEK being a safe and effective treatment for endothelial diseases of the cornea. In terms of surgical risks, complication rates, graft survival (clarity), visual acuity, and endothelial cell loss, DSEK appears similar to penetrating keratoplasty (PK). It seems to be superior to PK in terms of earlier visual recovery, refractive stability, postoperative refractive outcomes, wound and suture-related complications, and intraoperative and late suprachoroidal hemorrhage risk. The most common complications of DSEK do not appear to be detrimental to the ultimate vision recovery in most cases. Long-term endothelial cell survival and the risk of late endothelial rejection are beyond the scope of this assessment. Proprietary or commercial disclosure may be found after the references.

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Corticosteroid-induced ocular hypertension and glaucoma: a brief review and update of the literature.

Christine D. Rhee, Laura B K R Jones (2006)

The purpose of this article is to briefly review the literature of corticosteroid-induced ocular hypertension and glaucoma, its risk factors, the pathophysiology, and treatment options. In particular, literature pertaining to glaucoma in response to intravitreal triamcinolone acetonide will be reviewed. Primary open-angle glaucoma, status as a glaucoma suspect, and a family history of glaucoma are risk factors for an ocular hypertensive response with the use of corticosteroid therapy. Recent studies suggest that younger age may also be a risk factor in patients treated via the intravitreal route with corticosteroids. The mechanism of elevated intraocular pressure is increased aqueous outflow resistance owing to an accumulation of extracellular matrix material in the trabecular meshwork. Corticosteroid-induced ocular hypertension and glaucoma has been recognized for more than 50 years. Knowing the risk factors, prevalence, and pathophysiology can help the clinician prevent, monitor, and treat corticosteroid-induced ocular hypertension and glaucoma.

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Author and article information

Journal

Journal ID (nlm-ta): J Curr Glaucoma Pract

Journal ID (iso-abbrev): J Curr Glaucoma Pract

Journal ID (publisher-id): JOCGP

Title: Journal of Current Glaucoma Practice

Publisher: Jaypee Brothers Medical Publishers

ISSN (Print): 0974-0333

ISSN (Electronic): 0975-1947

Publication date (Print): May-Aug 2017

Publication date (Electronic): 05 August 2017

Volume: 11

Issue: 2

Pages: 67-72

Affiliations

[1 ]Senior Resident, Department of Ophthalmology, Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education & Research, Chandigarh, India

[2 ]Professor, Advanced Eye Centre, Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education & Research, Chandigarh, India

[3 ]Senior Research Associate, Advanced Eye Centre, Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education & Research, Chandigarh, India

[4 ]Senior Research Associate, Advanced Eye Centre, Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education & Research, Chandigarh, India

Author notes

Corresponding Author: Sushmita Kaushik, Professor, Advanced Eye Center, Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education & Research, Chandigarh, India, Phone: +911722570944, e-mail: sushmita_kaushik@yahoo.com

Article

DOI: 10.5005/jp-journals-l0028-1226

PMC ID: 5577123

PubMed ID: 28924342

SO-VID: fc4f939c-84fc-49bb-87f9-c0e2bc26d0b6

License:

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Unported License. To view a copy of this license, visit http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/

Steroid-induced Glaucoma: An Avoidable Irreversible Blindness

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Karger: Ophthalmology

Most cited references 66

Dexamethasone intravitreal implant in patients with macular edema related to branch or central retinal vein occlusion twelve-month study results.

Descemet's stripping endothelial keratoplasty: safety and outcomes: a report by the American Academy of Ophthalmology.

Corticosteroid-induced ocular hypertension and glaucoma: a brief review and update of the literature.

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