Long-term oral steroid uses leads to higher risk of ocular hypertension

There is a higher risk of steroid-induced ocular hypertension (OHT) in long-term oral steroid users compared with nonusers, according to a study presented at AAO 2022.

Because younger age was found to be a risk factor for steroid-induced OHT, younger patients who are long-term oral steroid users should have OHT monitored more frequently.

In this single-center, cross-sectional case study, researchers compared the IOP of 1380 eyes from 690 patients with oral steroid use with 3074 eyes from 1539 patients with no steroid use.

In the groups of patients with steroid use mean IOP was 14.20 ± 3.72 mmHg and the ratio of OHT was 5.14%. In the non-steroid user group, mean IOP was 13.50 ± 3.60 mmHg and the ratio of OHT was 0.46%. No correlation between OHT and type of steroid, duration of steroid use, or cumulative dose was found, but younger age was a significant risk factor for steroid-induced OHT.

Reference
Cho H, et al. Oral Steroid Use and Risk Factors for Increased IOP in Adult Patients. Poster presented at: AAO 2022.