Corticosteroid therapy may be associated with the development of cataracts. A patient on systemic corticosteroids should have at least annual eye examinations to detect development of cataracts.
Posterior subcapsular cataracts are the classic type associated with corticosteroid therapy.
Risk factors:
(1) higher dose of systemic corticosteroids
(2) longer duration of therapy
(3) comorbid conditions associated with cataracts such as diabetes, smoking or renal failure
(4) individual susceptibility
where:
• The risk for cataracts is less for inhaled corticosteroids than for oral corticosteroids in patients with asthma.
Early discontinuation of corticosteroids may result in reversibility of the changes.
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