About Pred Forte & other Steroids

I want a straignt answer on Pred Forte and other eye drops.  I had an IOD ( ReStor) cataret surgery in one eye 8 months ago.  Afterwards there was 1+ Iritis inflammatory cells that would not go down.  It was treated with one steroid after another ( Pred, Lotemax, Durezol, then Alphagan along with Xibrom.  Still the 1+ persisted.  Then at 6 months the IOP began to rise and anti Glacoma meds were added.  By 8 months the pressure had peaked at 51.  The anti Glacoma meds did not work.  A TRAP was done on an emergency basis since I lost sight for 4 hours.  NOW the doctors are back using Pred again post surgery.  Is that because there are not any other meds that will work other than the steroids to warn off disstructive inflamation (inflammation)??  Since Steroids can cause Uvetis/Iritis itself, could the steroids have been keeping the 1+ level?          

[Sandy Feldman, MD, MS]

Dear JT04,

Steroids are used after intraocular surgery to decrease inflammation inside the eye. While acute inflammation usually lowers the intraocular pressure, chronic inflammation may cause damage to the outflow path and increase pressure inside the eye. One of the side effects of steroids is to increase pressure, especially in susceptible individuals.  Steroids usually help, not increase inflammation.  There can be exceptions to this statement.  I would ask your eyeMD and seek the opinion of specialists.

Dr. Feldman

Sandy T. Feldman, M.D., M.S.
ClearView Eye and Laser Medical Center
San Diego, California