Cutaneous corticosteroid-induced glaucoma

Abstract

Corticoids play an important role in the treatment of inflammatory or immune-mediated skin diseases. Dermatologists traditionally avoid even shortterm cutaneous corticosteroid (except hydrocortisone) in the treatment of eyelid dermatitis, even though some patients with chronic eyelid dermatitis resolve after short-term higher potency cutaneous corticoids (personal observation). These patients usually present with itching and red eyelids (e.g., atopic dermatitis, contact dermatitis, contact urticaria, rosacea, seborrhea, and psoriasis) (1). Topical application of corticosteroids to the skin may cause open-angle glaucoma, for example, after long term corticoids ointment application to the periorbital region for treatment of atopic dermatitis or vitiligo vulgaris (2). Even cosmetic products such as facial lotions and creams with corticosteroid components, may cause ocular hypertension after prolonged application to the periocular region (3,4). The ability of certain topically applied corticosteroids to raise intra-ocular pressure (IOP) in susceptible individuals, particularly in open angle glaucoma patients, require care in the ophthalmologic and dermatologic practice. Other