Risk of cataracts and glaucoma with inhaled steroid use in children.

With the increasing use of inhaled corticosteroids as first-line therapy in the treatment of asthma, the adverse effects of these preparations have become the topic of much research in recent years. While it is known that orally administered steroids can have metabolic, musculoskeletal, dermatologic, hematologic, and ophthalmologic effects (inhaled corticosteroids have minimal reported hematologic or musculoskeletal effects, but have some effects on metabolic processes such as calcium metabolism), it is less understood whether or not, and at what doses, inhaled corticosteroids will effect the eye. A computerized literature search was performed to search for literature pertaining to the specific use of oral or inhaled (nasal or bronchial) steroids, adverse effects, side effects, long-term use, chronic use, glaucoma, ocular effects, and increased ocular pressure. The search focused on the effects of inhaled corticosteroids in both adults and children, but contained an emphasis on children; studies pertaining to the effects in children, however, are limited.