Examination for posterior subcapsular cataracts in patients treated with topical steroids.

A FEw reports have appeared in the literature suggesting that long-term topical steroids may be associated with the development of posterior subcapsular cataract in the treated eye(s) (Valerio, 1963; Cronin, 1964; Streiff, 1964; Becker, 1964; Crews, 1965). Cronin (1964) described unilateral posterior subcapsular cataract in a 19-year-old male treated for one year with topical steroids and Idoxuridine 0 1 per cent. for dendritic keratitis. No uveitis was detected. He was unable to decide whether the steroid itself, the Idoxuridine, or a combination of both was responsible. Streiff (1964) described anterior and posterior subcapsular changes after 8 months' treatment with topical steroids in a 24-year-old male suffering from hay fever and allergic conjunctivitis. It was therefore decided to examine a number of patients attending the outpatients department who were being treated with betamethasone disodium phosphate 0 1 per cent. in a water-miscible base or betamethasone disodium phosphate 0 1 per cent. and neomycin sulphate B.P. 0.5 per cent. in a water-miscible base, or who had been treated with these substances (Betnesol or Betnesol-N., Glaxo Laboratories) during the past 2 years, for not less than 2 months. None of the patients was or had been treated with systemic steroids.