Doctors warn against prolonged use of steroid-based eye drops, creams

AIIMS Delhi has recorded cases of children as young as 10 and hailing from arid regions suffering from glaucoma, with doctors attributing this to prolonged use of steroid-based eye drops for treatment of ocular allergies without supervision.

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Almost half of these cases reach the hospital in the advanced stages of glaucoma the doctors said, emphasising the need for judicious and supervised use of such eye drops.

Dr Tanuj Dada, professor in-charge of the Glaucoma Unit at RP Centre for Ophthalmic Sciences, AIIMS stressed that any prolonged use of steroids can lead to blindness from glaucoma.

Steroids used in various forms like eye drops, skin creams, nasal inhalers, tablets and injections can increase intraocular pressure which leads to damage of the optic nerve.

"The main cause of undetected glaucoma in children is unrestricted use of steroid eye drops for chronic allergic conjunctivitis. Every month at AIIMS RP centre, we get children aged 10-15 years hailing from arid regions and rural areas such as Rajasthan and Haryana suffering from advanced stages of steroid induced glaucoma," Dr Dada said.

When children in these regions develop redness and eye irritation due to dust and pollen, they go to a local village doctor who prescribes steroid based eye drops which alleviates the symptoms for the time being.