Steroid Glaucoma: Causes, Risks, and What You Need to Know

When you use steroid glaucoma, a form of secondary glaucoma triggered by corticosteroid medications that increase intraocular pressure. Also known as corticosteroid-induced glaucoma, it doesn’t come from genetics or aging—it comes from the drugs you take to reduce inflammation. Whether it’s eye drops for allergies, nasal sprays for sinus issues, or pills for autoimmune conditions, long-term or high-dose use of corticosteroids, anti-inflammatory drugs like prednisone, dexamethasone, or hydrocortisone that can affect fluid drainage in the eye can silently raise pressure inside your eye. This isn’t rare. Studies show up to 30% of people who use steroid eye drops for more than a month see their eye pressure climb, and for some, that pressure doesn’t drop even after stopping the drug.

Not everyone gets steroid glaucoma. Your risk goes up if you have a family history of glaucoma, are over 40, have diabetes, or already have high eye pressure. But even if you’re young and healthy, using steroids for weeks or months—especially in the eyes—can still trigger it. The problem? You won’t feel any pain or notice vision changes until damage is done. Unlike open-angle glaucoma, which creeps up slowly, steroid glaucoma can spike pressure in days or weeks. That’s why doctors monitor eye pressure during steroid treatment, especially if you’re using drops for more than two weeks.

Once steroid glaucoma develops, stopping the medication often brings pressure back down. But not always. In some cases, the eye’s drainage system gets permanently damaged, and you’ll need lifelong treatment with pressure-lowering drops, laser therapy, or even surgery. That’s why catching it early matters. If you’re on steroids and haven’t had your eye pressure checked, ask your doctor. It’s a simple, painless test that takes less than five minutes.

What you’ll find in the posts below isn’t a list of drug names or medical jargon. It’s real-world advice on how steroid use connects to eye health, how to spot warning signs before vision is affected, and how to talk to your doctor about balancing treatment benefits with eye safety. You’ll also see how other medications—like acid-reducing drugs or anticoagulants—can interact with steroid therapy, and how pharmacies handle prescriptions that carry hidden risks. This isn’t about scaring you off steroids. It’s about helping you use them wisely so you don’t trade one health problem for another.