Prevalence of steroid-induced glaucoma among patients suffering from vernal kerato-conjunctivitis in central India

Abstract

The present study is aimed to assess the prevalence of steroid-induced glaucoma in vernal kerato-conjunctivitis patients treated with topical steroids and to determine the association between different types of topical steroids and the presence of steroid-induced glaucoma. This study was conducted as a hospital-based cross-sectional study on patients belonging to the age range of 8 years to18 years who were already diagnosed with vernal kerato-conjunctivitis and were using topical steroids as treatment. Detailed clinical history and ophthalmologic examination were done. Depending upon the potency of steroids and their intra-ocular pressure raising potential, patients were categorized into one of the 4 groups (A, B, C, D). Intra-ocular pressure levels were raised in 32.9% of the patients managed with topical corticosteroids. Steroid-induced glaucoma was observed in 15 (6.1%) of the patients with vernal kerato-conjunctivitis. Steroid-induced glaucoma was significantly associated with prolonged duration of corticosteroids and high potency corticosteroid use (p<0.05). Steroid-induced glaucoma is one of the common complications of injudicious and long-term use of topical corticosteroids particularly high potency steroids. Approximately one-third of the patients on treatment for vernal kerato-conjunctivitis are corticosteroid responders. High potency steroids and prolonged use of steroids are factors associated with steroid-induced glaucoma.