Intraocular pressure elevation associated with inhalation and nasal corticosteroids

Background

The ocular hypertensive response to corticosteroids is well established. Elevated intraocular pressure (IOP) secondary to corticosteroids by nasal spray or inhalation has rarely been reported.

Results

Three patients showed a possible ocular hypertensive response to beclomethasone dipropionate by nasal spray or inhalation. In two patients, the IOP returned to pretreatment levels after discontinuing nasal corticosteroid spray. One patient required medication to control IOP with continued inhaled corticosteroid. One patient later demonstrated an ocular hypertensive response to oral steroids.

Conclusion

Corticosteroids by nasal spray or inhalation may cause ocular hypertension in susceptible patients. The authors recommend surveillance of IOP in patients using these medications.

Administration, Inhalation , Administration, Intranasal , Aged , Asthma/drug therapy , Beclomethasone/administration & dosage/*adverse effects/therapeutic use , Case Report , Female , Human , Intraocular Pressure/*drug effects , Male , Middle Age , Nebulizers and Vaporizers , Ocular Hypertension/*chemically induced , Rhinitis/drug therapy , Support, Non-U.S. Gov’t , Support, U.S. Gov’t, P.H.S.

a Department of Ophthalmology, University of California, San Diego School of Medicine, La Jolla, USA

PII: S0161-6420(95)31039-1

doi:10.1016/S0161-6420(95)31039-1

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