[Ophthalmic complications in general corticoid therapy]

The authors investigated in a group of 850 patients the influence of long-term general corticotherapy on the transparency of the lens and intraocular pressure in relation to the length of therapy, dosage, age and sex of the patient. The presence of posterior subcapsular cataract was revealed in 5.2% of the patient, a raised intraocular pressure in 12.8%. The authors reached the conclusion that the duration of corticotherapy did not influence in a substantial way the development of posterior subcapsular cataract nor of cortisone glaucoma. A dose of 10-15 mg per day may be considered marginal for the development of cataract; dosage has no basic effect on the development of glaucoma. The maximum incidence of complications was in advanced age groups. No predisposition as regards sex was observed. A significant role in the development of cortisone cataract and cortisone glaucoma is played by individual sensitivity to corticoids.