Daijiworld Media Network – New Delhi
New Delhi, Jan 21: Widespread and often unsupervised use of steroids in India is increasingly being identified as a major trigger for secondary glaucoma, a serious eye condition that can result in irreversible blindness, eye specialists warned on Tuesday.
As January is observed as Glaucoma Awareness Month, doctors across the country have raised concerns over the growing use of steroids for allergies, skin ailments, respiratory conditions and even as over-the-counter eye drops, which can significantly elevate eye pressure when used for prolonged periods.
Experts said such practices are contributing to a sharp rise in steroid-induced glaucoma, a form of secondary glaucoma that develops as a side effect of prolonged steroid use.
“Steroid-induced glaucoma is now frequently seen in routine clinical practice, especially among patients who use steroid medications or eye drops without proper medical supervision,” said Dr JS Titiyal, Regional Head, Dr Agarwals Eye Hospital, New Delhi. He cautioned that the condition is particularly dangerous as patients often remain symptom-free in the initial stages while eye pressure silently increases, causing permanent damage to the optic nerve.
According to specialists, many patients remain unaware of the long-term harm caused to the optic nerve until vision loss becomes evident.
India is estimated to have 12–13 million glaucoma patients, accounting for nearly one-sixth of the global burden. Globally, around 75–80 million people are affected by glaucoma, a figure expected to cross 110 million by 2040. Despite being the leading cause of irreversible blindness worldwide, glaucoma continues to be grossly underdiagnosed in India.
Doctors said nearly 85–90% of glaucoma cases in the country remain undetected, primarily because the disease progresses silently. By the time symptoms appear, irreversible vision damage has often already occurred.
Dr Kalpana R, Senior Consultant, Ophthalmology, SIMS Hospital, Chennai, explained that steroid-induced glaucoma can result from steroid use in any form — pills, eye drops, inhalers, patches or creams. “If not stopped in time, it can lead to permanent optic nerve damage and vision loss. Long-term steroid use may also cause cataracts. Anyone on prolonged steroid therapy should undergo regular eye examinations,” she advised.
Experts noted that over the past two to three years, glaucoma diagnoses have increased due to factors such as an ageing population, rising diabetes and myopia cases, improved diagnostic tools and better awareness.
While glaucoma is most commonly detected in individuals above 40 years, with peak incidence between 50 and 70 years, doctors are also reporting more cases of juvenile and early-onset glaucoma, particularly among those with a family history or secondary risk factors.
“Early warning signs like frequent changes in spectacles, eye strain, headaches, difficulty seeing in low light or halos around lights are often ignored. Since central vision remains intact in the early stages, patients delay seeking care, resulting in avoidable vision loss,” Dr Titiyal said.