Eye drops that I use casually…can cause blindness (steroid induced glaucoma)

“steroid induced glaucoma

The story I’m going to tell you in the future is an actual example that I’ve experienced.

You can also watch the video on my YouTube channel below.

It was a teenage student who visited with her mother because she couldn’t see well, and the results of the test were unusual.~

intraocular pressure, eye pressure, was higher than normal.

As a result of additional detailed examination, visual field defect due to optic nerve damage was observed.

Glaucoma was suspected.

But glaucoma rarely occurs at such a young age.

So I asked to her mother,

Does she have any eyedrops use separately?

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What is glaucoma

Hello, I’m Dr. Song, your ophthalmologist.

As I told you earlier, I sometimes encounter glaucoma due to the eye drops patients was using.

Glaucoma is a terrifying disease that can lead to blindness as vision becomes increasingly damaged due to problems with the optic nerve.

These glaucoma can be caused by side effects of drugs.

It’s asteroid that you’ve been heard of at least once.

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Steroid induced glaucoma

Many people probably think negatively, but steroids are a necessary ingredient in treating inflammation.

Of course, if it used well…

Of course it is common ingredients in ophthalmology and is commonlyinvolved in anti-inflammatory eye drops.

We can’t know from the product’s name. If you find ingredients written below at eyedrop’s ingredient table, that eyedrop contain steroids.

Prednisolone

Dexamethasone

Loteprednol

Fluorometholone

Prevalence rate of steroid induced glaucoma is relatively low as 5%. But the stronger of steroid potency and longer used period, the higher rate of glaucoma risk.

Then, how can we lower the risk?

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Avoid steroid induced glaucoma

Because intra-ocular pressure elevation which cause of glaucoma commonly occurred at 3~6 weeks after stared steroid eye drops,

Steroid should only be used at least period as possible.

If it needs to be used for long period, regular intra ocular pressure check should be done.

And if you are included in listed below, more attention is needed because the risk of steroid induced glaucoma is much higher than normal.

Familial histroy of glaucoma

Already suffering from glaucoma

Young or old age

High myopia

Diabetes

Rheumatoid disease

But, this is something that ophthalmologist need to be careful about.

However, what I want to tell to patients is not only drug from ophthalmology

but also any prescripted drug should be used in according to the prescription.

There are some people who keep it personally prescription eye drop and use it regulary

It’s absolutely forbidden.

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Take home message.

Now, everyone!

If the following ingredients were founded in your eye drops, it should be checked again.

prednisolone

dexamethasone

Loteprednol

fluorometholone