[A clinical analysis of 112 cases with glucocorticoid glaucoma]

To investigate the etiology, clinical characteristics, treatment and prevention of glucocorticoid glaucoma (GIG).

Retrospectively, 112 cases (215 eyes) with GIG including 79 males and 33 females in the age range 6-69 years were studied.

One hundred and ten cases used glucocorticoid locally, 2 cases used it systemically, and the mean therapeutic time was (27.5 +/- 23.18) months. Conjunctivitis of various causes was the main disease to use glucocorticoid, all 215 eyes had the defect of visual field caused by hypertension, damage of optic disc and retinal nerve fiber layers, just like primary open-angle glaucoma. The degree of injury was related to the therapeutic time. The IOP was decreased after the use of glucocorticoid was stopped, but it could not get to the normal level. There were 162 eyes (75.4%) with characteristic posterior subcapsular cataract and 76 cases combined with myopia.

The important cause leading to GIG is the abuse of glucocorticoid. The history of using glucocorticoid and the posterior subcapsular cataract are the main bases in the diagnosis and differential diagnosis of GIG.