Steroids and the Eyes
It has been half a century since glucocorticoids were first prescribed. Now we call them corticosteroids, or simply steroids, or just 'roids' (for fans of Major League Baseball!)
Steroids are chemicals similar to hormones produced by the adrenal glands atop the kidneys. These powerful drugs are a double-edged sword because they quickly relieve inflammation but at the same time can cause complications elsewhere in the body. Chronic steroid use can lead to weight gain, diabetes, high blood pressure, fragile bones, poor tissue healing, mental confusion, and increased susceptibility to infection. Doctors know about these problems and try to manage the patients' health problems with the minimal steroid dose over the shortest possible time.
Steroids can be administered in pill form, intravenously, injectable (preferred by athletes), as well as though oral/nasal inhalers and eyedrops.
We know that one-in-ten people who take long-term steroids such as Prednisone can experience a rise in their intraocular pressure (IOP). We call these folks STEROID RESPONDERS. Serial IOP measurements are required in order to confirm that diagnosis.
Now, what if an existing glaucoma patient is also a steroid responder? There can be a dangerous IOP rise. This can lead to irreversible damage to the optic nerve...the 'TV cable' which connects the eye with the brain.
Beware of that sword! Anyone receiving any kind long-term steroid therapy needs regular eye exams and pressure checks. This applies not only to ophthalmology patients with inflammatory eye disorders like uveitis, but also to asthmatics, allergy sufferers, and folks with chronic conditions like lupus, fibromyalgia, and sarcoid.
Related Topics: FDA: Halt Unapproved Steroid Drugs
, Conquer Allergies!
Steroids are chemicals similar to hormones produced by the adrenal glands atop the kidneys. These powerful drugs are a double-edged sword because they quickly relieve inflammation but at the same time can cause complications elsewhere in the body. Chronic steroid use can lead to weight gain, diabetes, high blood pressure, fragile bones, poor tissue healing, mental confusion, and increased susceptibility to infection. Doctors know about these problems and try to manage the patients' health problems with the minimal steroid dose over the shortest possible time.
Steroids can be administered in pill form, intravenously, injectable (preferred by athletes), as well as though oral/nasal inhalers and eyedrops.
We know that one-in-ten people who take long-term steroids such as Prednisone can experience a rise in their intraocular pressure (IOP). We call these folks STEROID RESPONDERS. Serial IOP measurements are required in order to confirm that diagnosis.
Now, what if an existing glaucoma patient is also a steroid responder? There can be a dangerous IOP rise. This can lead to irreversible damage to the optic nerve...the 'TV cable' which connects the eye with the brain.
Beware of that sword! Anyone receiving any kind long-term steroid therapy needs regular eye exams and pressure checks. This applies not only to ophthalmology patients with inflammatory eye disorders like uveitis, but also to asthmatics, allergy sufferers, and folks with chronic conditions like lupus, fibromyalgia, and sarcoid.
Related Topics: FDA: Halt Unapproved Steroid Drugs
, Conquer Allergies!
8 Comments:
I have recently (for the first time ever) had two steriod injections for pain management. It was very helpful at first, then kind of flattened out to about 30% pain relief.
A week later, I went to the eye dr for a routine exam and he said IOP was up sharply from a year ago and asked about steriods. He put me on eye drops and wants to see me in a month.
Needless to say, I am discontinuing the steriod injections at least until it can be determined if I am a steroid responder, or if it's definite that the steroids caused the rise in IOP.
I am a steriod responder. This was found out after going to see an opthamologist because I woke up one day with a large (jelly fish like)floater in my view. It turned out I had vitreitis or pars planitis as it is called. The only treatment known was a steriod injection which I was able to avoid for a short while by using topical steriod drops. The inflamation became so bad I could not longer avoid the injection knowing that it may create further complications. It did.
My body "fought off" the steriods which caused a build up of white blood cells in my eye that closed off the natural drainage canal inside the eye.
This led to me having to have a trabeculectomy. (a new drainage canal created in my eye). Because of the inflamation, the surgery and constant use of steriods to heal my eye I developed a cateract. I just had my lens replaced 4 weeks ago and my vision is still on the mend but doing very well. I am a 37 year old female of italian and eastern european descent. I was and am in excellent health. The cause for the par planitis was determined to be idiopathic. I hope this information saves someone the four year ordeal I have endured or can be used for research.
Hello all! I am a 22 year old wife of a pars planitis sufferer. He was just diagnosed with pars planitis about two week ago and we have yet to start steroids...we are still waiting for blood test results to come back. My husband is a 26 year old very healthy man and all of a sudden we are dealing with this. Well we thought it was all of a sudden. Up until about 6 months ago his eyes were fine. His eyesight started to get alittle fuzzy so we went to see the eye doctor and so it began. She sent him to a specialist and here we are. If anyone is reading this please email me with any helpful information. I just want my husband to be able to see correctly again...or as well as possible. my email is lil_qt_pie_77@hotmail.com. Thank you!
Hi,my 7 year old son was diagnosis with Pars Planitis in August of 2007, he has had all the blood work done and everything has come back normal. He even had an evalution with Rhumetoid Arthritis specialist and everything was fine. My son has been on steriod tables,steroid drops and recently had steriod injections. He also started taking methorexate, his eye site is getting better, there is still some inflammation in both eyes. The doctor told us that the disorder will eventually burn itself out in a few years, until then we have to monitor his medication intake, due to the side effects and make sure no damage is done to his vision. So far so good, he just went to the doctor today and his eye sight is getting better. IF you have any other questions please post back.....hang in there!!!
I was diagnosised with Pars Planitis when i was 22 years old, i am now 24. I have never been treated with steriods because my doctor said it would go away. I have it in my left eye and it went away, but came back and now i have it in my right eye and it's gotten worse. I have no medical benefits at all. I don't know know what i should do. If anyone has any advice or help they could give me please e-mail me at rudestylee02@hotmail.com Thank you so much.
I recently hade injections on the left side of my neck for headaches, I was also given Fioicet. I an also on daily Prednisone. Approx. one week after the injections I developed floaters on my right eye. I have also had cataract surg. Should I be concerned?
My 19 year old daughter has uveiis, (think I spelled that right), anyway, for the last 8 months or better she has been on prednisone and on steriod drops. She was also given a steriod shot in her right eye. She has floaters in both eyes and is now considered legally blind. The steroids did nothing except cause health problems. They have messed with her cycles, caused her an ulcer and just generally made her ill. I have taken her off it all. She has been passed from Dr. to Dr. and they do nothing but say "well, keep taking the drops and come back in a few weeks". No more. My daughter has said she will learn to live the way she is. She has been told that to have surgery now is impossibly because they cant get the swelling down and if and when they do it they can not guarantee that she wont lose what little site she has. So she has decided against the surgery. She has put her faith in God and said I will learn to live as a blind person. For anyone taking steroids, please be careful, they are nothing to mess with. My daughter is living proof. They are not sure if they will ever get all the steroids out of her that they pumped into her over the last 8 months or better. God Bless.
I don't know if you got my E-Mail I'm sorry to hear about your daughter, I've been on Prednisone for mant years and have some serious medical problems that could be do to long term steroid use. Tell her that she is in my prayers, I know that prayers are the only reason I'm still here today. Take care
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