Combined corticosteroid use associated with elevated risk of posterior subcapsular, nuclear cataracts

Ophthalmology. 2009;116(4):652-657.

Use of combined inhaled and oral corticosteroids was associated with increased long-term risks of posterior subcapsular cataract and nuclear cataract development, a study showed.

"Interaction between inhaled and oral corticosteroid use was significant for [posterior subcapsular] (P = .01) and nuclear (P = .02) cataract incidence," the study authors said.

The Blue Mountains Eye Study, a population-based cohort analysis, included 3,654 Australians 49 years or older between 1992 and 1994. At 5 years, 2,335 subjects were re-examined, and at 10 years, 1,952 subjects were re-examined.

Investigators used questionnaires to gauge baseline inhaled and oral corticosteroid use. Past users were defined as those who formerly used steroids for at least 1 month but were no longer using them at baseline. Current users were identified as those using steroids at baseline and for at least 1 month before baseline. Ever users comprised former and current steroid users.

At baseline, 103 subjects were identified as current inhaled steroid users and 120 subjects were found to be former users; 31 subjects were identified as current oral corticosteroid users and 147 subjects were identified as former users.

Adjusted for age and gender, data showed current users had an increased risk of developing posterior subcapsular cataract and nuclear cataract but not cortical cataract. Only subjects who used inhaled and oral steroids had elevated risk of developing posterior subcapsular cataract when ever users were compared with those who never used steroids.