Steroid Induced Glaucoma
Glaucoma can be defined a group of serious conditions resulting in optic nerve damage, which diminishes sight. Abnormally high pressure inside your eye is the usual cause of this damage. Glaucoma is the second leading cause of blindness in the United States. Sometimes, it is called the "silent thief of sight" because it can damage your vision slowly and gradually that you don't even notice any loss of vision until the disease is at an advanced state.
Several different drugs have the potential to cause the elevation of intraocular pressure. Steroid-induced glaucoma is usually associated with topical steroid use, but it may also develop with inhaled, oral, intravenous, periocular or intravitreal steroid administration.
The intersection of LASIK can be particularly dangerous. First, by thinning the cornea, LASIK surgery causes the intraocular pressure to be recorded as lower than it actually is. Second, steroid use is known to cause an increase in intraocular pressure. Third, topical steroids are frequently administered in connection with LASIK surgery, and after surgery, to treat certain inflammatory conditions such as Diffuse Lamellar Keratitis (“DLK”). Fourth, persistent steroid use, going beyond a couple of weeks, can cause permanent and irreversible damages to the optic nerve. This can result in blindness. This is due to the increase in intraocular pressure for a sustained period of time. This is known as steroid induced glaucoma.
Consequently, whatever the reason, if you are using steroid drops in your eyes, it is important that your eye doctor check your eye pressure regularly and ensure that the treatment is not causing a glaucoma condition.
If you or a loved one has been the victim of such medical negligence and if the mal-administration of steroids caused your glaucoma, please contact an experienced medical malpractice lawyer to find out more information about your legal rights and options. Such negligence results in patients having to undergo additional treatment or surgery, suffer physical pain, emotional distress, and anxiety from worrying if their vision will ever be the same again.
Please contact the Law Office of Todd J. Krouner to find out whether you have a claim for compensation in your particular case. Our law firm has access to renowned experts who will be able to carefully assess and evaluate your case and determine whether you have a medical malpractice claim. Call us today for a free consultation and case evaluation.
For more about glaucoma generally, please visit the webpage of The Glaucoma Foundation at www.glaucomafoundation.org.