Steroid Cataract

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Abstract
A total of 113 patients, 56 children with Still''s disease and 57 adults with classical rheumatoid arthritis, receiving maintenance corticosteroid therapy, was examined, together with 48 patients with classical rheumatoid arthritis not on corticosteroids. Thirteen patients, seven with Still''s disease and 6 with adult rheumatoid arthritis, had posterior sub-capsular lens opacities. These were all receiving corticosteroid therapy. The duration of therapy seemed to be less important than the average daily dose; while this tended to be higher in the patients developing cataract, particularly among the juveniles, 8 of 13 cataracts occurred in patients whose dally dose of prednisone was 10 mg or less. In the hope that cessation or reduction of steroid administration may inhibit or slow down the progress of an early cataract, this condition must be looked for routinely and repeatedly in patients on corticosteroids. If there is any suggestion of an opacity, the patients should be referred to an ophthalmologist.