Eye Pressure from Steroids: What You Need to Know

When you take steroids, a class of anti-inflammatory drugs used in pills, creams, inhalers, or eye drops. Also known as corticosteroids, they help with allergies, asthma, eczema, and joint pain—but they can quietly damage your eyes. One of the most serious side effects? eye pressure from steroids, a rise in intraocular pressure that can lead to permanent vision loss. This isn’t rare. Studies show up to 40% of people who use steroids long-term develop higher eye pressure, even if they never had eye problems before.

Intraocular pressure, the fluid pressure inside your eye. When it climbs too high, it squeezes the optic nerve. That’s steroid-induced glaucoma, a type of open-angle glaucoma triggered by steroid use. Unlike other forms of glaucoma, this one often has no symptoms until vision is already damaged. You won’t feel pain. You won’t see blurry. But your eye pressure is climbing. And if you’re using steroid eye drops, nasal sprays, skin creams, or even oral pills for months, you’re at risk—even if your doctor didn’t warn you.

It’s not just about eye drops. People using topical steroids for eczema or inhaled steroids for asthma can still get elevated eye pressure. The body absorbs these drugs, and they travel through your bloodstream to your eyes. Some people are more sensitive—those with a family history of glaucoma, diabetics, or people over 40. But anyone can be affected. That’s why regular eye checks are critical if you’re on long-term steroids.

If you’ve been using steroids for more than a few weeks, ask your doctor for a baseline eye pressure test. It’s quick, painless, and could save your sight. If pressure rises, stopping or switching steroids often reverses the problem—if caught early. But waiting too long? That’s when damage becomes permanent.

The posts below cover real cases, practical steps to monitor your eye health while on steroids, how different forms of steroids affect pressure differently, and what alternatives exist if you need to avoid them. You’ll find advice from pharmacists, ophthalmologists, and patients who’ve been through it. No fluff. Just what you need to protect your vision while managing your condition.