How long should prednisolone eye drops be used?
Prednisolone eye drops are only meant to be used for a short period of time. Do not use them for longer than one week unless your doctor advises you otherwise. This is because they can cause problems within your eye when used for longer than recommended.
What happens if you use steroid eye drops for too long?
With prolonged use comes the possibility of persistent fungal infection. Some patients may go on to develop glaucoma, cataracts, or secondary infections. Especially if you already have thinning of the eye surface, be aware that small perforations of the globe can occur.
Do steroid eye drops weaken your immune system?
Since extended use of steroids can reduce your immune system’s abilities, you may be at an increased risk for eye infections as well.
How often can you use prednisone eye drops?
Adults—Use one or two drops in the affected eye 2 to 4 times a day. Your doctor may tell you to use the drops more often during the first two days of treatment.
How do I wean off prednisolone eye drops?
Once inflammation is controlled, a typical taper for topical steroids is to halve the dose for each given time interval. For example, if you were giving a steroid q.i.d. for five days, taper the drug to b.i.d. for five days, then q.d. for five days before discontinuing.
Can prednisone affect eyesight?
Taking steroids can cause a cataract type doctors call posterior subcapsular cataracts. It causes a small, cloudy area to form underneath the eye’s lens. While cataracts are a known side effect for some people when taking steroids, they’re highly treatable.
Does prednisone affect vision?
“Prednisone is well known to increase a patient’s risk of developing cataract or glaucoma,” says Greenstein. “A certain percentage of people who take prednisone are what we call ‘steroid responders. ‘” The drug can cause an elevation in eye pressure, which is a major risk factor for developing glaucoma, he says.
Can steroid drops damage eyes?
Anti-inflammatory steroids can affect your eyes and vision in different ways. As a general rule, the longer you take them or the higher the dose, the more likely side effects can occur. The most concerning potential side effects of the eyes can be glaucoma and cataracts.
What happens if you don’t taper off steroid eye drops?
Your symptoms may be a return of inflammation, not withdrawal. Tapering too quickly can cause a flare to happen. If your disease flares, you may need to go back to a higher steroid dose for a short time to get the inflammation under control.