Glaucoma

[Milkshake99]

Have been diagnosed with P.M.R since Feb,24. Put on 15mg Prednisolone. Have increased to 23mg due to flare up. Visited optician on advice of dr,as found to have increased readings on glaucoma test. They had risen since July 23 from right eye 11 mmgh to 21 mmgh and left eye from 15mmgh to 23mmgh. Optician not sure if it may have been due to prednisolone. Will seeing Dr.on Thursday.

Has anyone else had similar?

Thank you

Viv

[DorsetLady PMRGCAuk volunteer]

My readings increased - up around 22 at their highest, but as I was under the Eye Clinic at hospital … they just monitored them.. and they did reduce as the Pred reduced..so no action required.

[SnazzyD]

My pressures went up to 19 though it could have been higher had they been tested earlier in my Pred journey. The optician said it was because of the Pred and checked them every 3 months. The pressures came done with the dose.

[PMRpro Ambassador]

It isn't uncommon but doesn't happen to everyone. All patients on longterm pred should be advised to get a baseline eye test including pressures and have them monitored at least annually though 6 monthly is preferable. Unfortunately, most doctors seem unaware! Some people never have the problem or it never gets to risky levels.

[Koalajane]

I was told I had glaucoma by a doctor at the eye clinic. At my next appointment her superior said I had ocular hypertension and also measured how thick my cornea are. He said they were thick, I had a procedure at the eye clinic in February that can cause high pressure in the eyes ( a steroid implant in my eye) and had to go back a month later for them to check eye pressure. The eye that had the implant was 31. The doctor was concerned and said I see you have thick cornea, how thick? I didn’t know so she tested them and my right eye is plus 6 and left plus 4 which meant the 31 was really 25. So she said the cornea were very thick, I am on eye drops for 6 weeks now and hoping the pressure will go down well.

[Predderman2020]

Thanks. Sorry for delay. My only knowledge is to do with cataracts and their replacement. I was asked to reduce to 7.5mgs for 10 days or the op’ could not take place. Cataract operations will reduce pressure within the eye, interestingly. I have seen on the web posts that link steroid use and glaucoma, however.

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to Predderman2020]

Steroid use can increase the occular pressure so it should be monitored in everyone on steroids - a baseline taken and then 6 monthly checks are ideal, annual is more usual. Raised pressures are managed with eye drops but glaucoma is usually only a problem if the pressures aren't identified and monitored so they get too high. That can then damage the optic nerve and result in loss of peripheral vision - and then that CAN progress to glaucoma. Raised pressures alone do not constitute glaucoma.