Skip to main content
Postgraduate Medical Journal logoLink to Postgraduate Medical Journal
. 1976 Oct;52(612):634–638. doi: 10.1136/pgmj.52.612.634

Steroids and the eye--indications and complications.

W J Dinning
PMCID: PMC2496360  PMID: 792855

Abstract

Corticosteroid therapy is of great value in many types of eye disease. The indications are briefly discussed, together with the choice of agent and mode of administration. The dangers of steroids are now widely recognized, and the complications are discussed, particularly cataract and glaucoma. Reference is also made to optic neuritis and thyroid ophthalmopathy, where the role of steroids is uncertain. Particular stress is laid on the need to keep steroid dosage as low as possible, so as to avoid systemic side effects. There are unfortunately many situations where treatment of doubtful efficacy has produced severe side effects. Despite the overall benefit of steroids in ophthalmology, there is a pressing need to find alternative treatment for a variety of blinding disorders.

Full text

PDF
634

Selected References

These references are in PubMed. This may not be the complete list of references from this article.

  1. ARMALY M. F. EFFECT OF CORTICOSTEROIDS ON INTRAOCULAR PRESSURE AND FLUID DYNAMICS. I. THE EFFECT OF DEXAMETHASONE IN THE NORMAL EYE. Arch Ophthalmol. 1963 Oct;70:482–491. doi: 10.1001/archopht.1963.00960050484010. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  2. ASHTON N., COOK C. Effect of cortisone on healing of corneal wounds. Br J Ophthalmol. 1951 Nov;35(11):708–717. doi: 10.1136/bjo.35.11.708. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  3. Armaly M. F. The heritable nature of dexamethasone-induced ocular hypertension. Arch Ophthalmol. 1966 Jan;75(1):32–35. doi: 10.1001/archopht.1966.00970050034007. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  4. BECKER B., HAHN K. A. TOPICAL CORTICOSTEROIDS AND HEREDITY IN PRIMARY OPEN-ANGLE GLAUCOMA. Am J Ophthalmol. 1964 Apr;57:543–551. doi: 10.1016/0002-9394(64)92500-0. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  5. BLACK R. L., OGLESBY R. B., VON SALLMANN L., BUNIM J. J. Posterior subcapsular cataracts induced by corticosteroids in patients with rheumatoid arthritis. JAMA. 1960 Sep 10;174:166–171. doi: 10.1001/jama.1960.63030020005014. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  6. COOK C., MacDONALD R. K. Effect of cortisone on the permeability of the blood-aqueous barrier to fluorescein. Br J Ophthalmol. 1951 Nov;35(11):730–740. doi: 10.1136/bjo.35.11.730. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  7. DAY R. M., CARROLL F. D. Optic nerve involvement associated with thyroid dysfunction. Trans Am Ophthalmol Soc. 1961;59:220–238. [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  8. DUKE-ELDER S. The clinical value of cortisone and ACTH in ocular disease; a preliminary assessment for the Medical Research Council. Br J Ophthalmol. 1951 Nov;35(11):637–671. doi: 10.1136/bjo.35.11.637. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  9. Dinning W. J., Perkins E. S. Immunosuppressives in uveitis. A preliminary report of experience with chlorambucil. Br J Ophthalmol. 1975 Aug;59(8):397–403. doi: 10.1136/bjo.59.8.397. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  10. GILES C. L., ISAACSON J. D. The treatment of acute optic neuritis. An analysis of eighty cases. Arch Ophthalmol. 1961 Aug;66:176–179. doi: 10.1001/archopht.1961.00960010178006. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  11. GOLDMANN H. Cortisone glaucoma. Arch Ophthalmol. 1962 Nov;68:621–626. doi: 10.1001/archopht.1962.00960030625009. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  12. Hyndiuk R. A., Reagan M. G. Radioactive depot-corticosteroid penetration into monkey ocular tissue. I. Retrobulbar and systemic administration. Arch Ophthalmol. 1968 Oct;80(4):499–503. doi: 10.1001/archopht.1968.00980050501019. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  13. Ivy H. K. Medical approach to ophthalmopathy of Graves' disease. Mayo Clin Proc. 1972 Dec;47(12):980–985. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  14. Jewitt D. E., Mercer C. J., Shillingford J. P. Practolol in the treatment of cardiac dysrhythmias due to acute myocardial infarction. Lancet. 1969 Aug 2;2(7614):227–230. doi: 10.1016/s0140-6736(69)90001-4. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  15. KING J. H., Jr, PASSMORE J. W., SKEEHAN R. A., Jr, WEIMER J. R. Prednisone and prednisolone in ophthalmology; further experimental and clinical observations. Trans Am Acad Ophthalmol Otolaryngol. 1955 Nov-Dec;59(6):759–770. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  16. LEOPOLD I. H., KROMAN H. S., GREEN H. Intraocular penetration of prednisone and prednisolone. Trans Am Acad Ophthalmol Otolaryngol. 1955 Nov-Dec;59(6):771–778. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  17. LEOPOLD I. H., PURNELL J. E., CANNON E. J., STEINMETZ C. G., McDONALD P. R. Local and systemic cortisone in ocular disease. Am J Ophthalmol. 1951 Mar;34(3):361–371. doi: 10.1016/0002-9394(51)91481-x. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  18. McDonald W. I. Diagnosis and management of optic neuritis. Trans Ophthalmol Soc N Z. 1976;28:11–17. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  19. McLEAN J. M., GORDON D. M., KOTEEN H. Clinical experiences with ACTH and cortisone in ocular diseases. Trans Am Acad Ophthalmol Otolaryngol. 1951 May-Jun;55:565–572. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  20. OGLESBY R. B., BLACK R. L., VON SALLMANN L., BUNIM J. J. Cataracts in patients with rheumatic diseases treated with corticosteroids. Further observations. Arch Ophthalmol. 1961 Nov;66:625–630. doi: 10.1001/archopht.1961.00960010627005. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  21. SCHEIE H. G., McLELLAN T. G., Jr Treatment of herpes zoster ophthalmicus with corticotropin and corticosteroids. Arch Ophthalmol. 1959 Oct;62:579–587. doi: 10.1001/archopht.1959.04220040041006. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  22. THYGESON P., HOGAN M. J., KIMURA S. J. Cortisone and hydrocortisone in ocular infections. Trans Am Acad Ophthalmol Otolaryngol. 1953 Jan-Feb;57(1):64–85. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  23. THYGESON P., HOGAN M. J., KIMURA S. J. The unfavorable effect of topical steroid therapy on herpetic keratitis. Trans Am Ophthalmol Soc. 1960;58:245–262. [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  24. Werner S. C. The eye changes of Graves' disease: overview. Mayo Clin Proc. 1972 Dec;47(12):969–974. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]

Articles from Postgraduate Medical Journal are provided here courtesy of BMJ Publishing Group

RESOURCES