An eight-week general practice based prospective study was carried out to determine the incidence and prevalence of various eye conditions and the frequency of prescription of different topical eye preparations. The most frequently diagnosed eye conditions were infectious conjunctivitis (35%), glaucoma (16%), allergic conjunctivitis (11%), and keratoconjunctivitis sicca (9%). Betamethasone was the fourth most commonly prescribed preparation (9%). Eye preparations containing steroids accounted for 14% of prescriptions. Two cases of steroid induced glaucoma are presented as an illustration of the potential hazards of these preparations. The pathogenesis of steroid induced glaucoma is discussed.
McLeanIC. Eye problems in Grampian. Elective project, University of Aberdeen Department of General Practice. Full report and publication in preparation.
2.
OppenheimerAN. Questionnaire and attitude measurement. Heineman, London1968.
3.
Morbidity statistics from general practice. Second national survey 1970/1971. Studies on medical and population subjects. Office of population censuses and surveys. 1974; Number 26.
4.
Morbidity statistics from general practice. Second national survey 1971/1972. Studies on medical and population subjects. Office of population censuses and surveys. 1979; Number 36.
5.
GriersonI.What is open angle glaucoma?Eye1987; 1: 15–28.
6.
WeinrebRN, BloomE, BaxterJD. Detection of glucocorticoid receptors in cultured human trabecular cells. Inv Ophthalmol Vis Sci1980; 21: 403–407.
7.
ArmalyMF. Statistical attributes of the steroid hypertensive response in the clinically normal eye 1. The demonstration of three levels of response. Inv Ophth1965; 4: 187–197.
8.
ArmalyMF. Effect of corticosteroids on intraocular pressure and fluid dynamics 1. The effect of dexamethasone on the normal eye. Arch Ophthalmol (Chicago)1963; 70: 482–491.
9.
AtingbehinAO. Comparative study of intraocular pressure effects of fluoromethalone 0.1% versus dexamethasone 0.1%. Br J Ophthalmol1983; 67: 661–663.
10.
KitazawaY.Increased intraocular pressure induced by corticosteroids. Am J Ophthalmol1976; 82: 492–495.
11.
CubeyRB. Glaucoma following the applications of corticosteroid to the skin of the eyelids. Br J Dermatol1976; 95: 207.
