Steroid Misuse Emerging as Major Cause of Secondary Glaucoma, Warn Doctors

Chennai | 27 January 2026: Doctors across India are sounding an alarm over the rising incidence of secondary glaucoma linked to the widespread and often unsupervised use of steroids. Commonly prescribed for allergies, skin disorders, respiratory conditions and even used as over-the-counter eye drops, steroids can significantly increase eye pressure when taken for prolonged periods—silently damaging the optic nerve and leading to irreversible blindness.

India is already home to an estimated 12–13 million people living with glaucoma, accounting for nearly one-sixth of the global burden. Worldwide, glaucoma affects about 75–80 million people, a figure projected to cross 110 million by 2040. Despite being the leading cause of irreversible blindness, glaucoma remains severely underdiagnosed in India, with nearly 85–90% of cases going undetected.

“The worrying trend we see is steroid-induced glaucoma, especially among patients self-medicating without medical supervision,” said Dr Soundari S, Regional Head – Clinical Services, Dr Agarwals Eye Hospital, Chennai. “Patients often feel fine initially, but eye pressure rises silently, causing permanent optic nerve damage before symptoms appear,” she added.

Over the last two to three years, doctors have noted an increase in glaucoma diagnoses due to ageing demographics, higher rates of diabetes and myopia, better diagnostics and improved awareness. However, a growing share of cases is now linked to avoidable secondary causes such as prolonged steroid use, highlighting the importance of early screening and guided treatment.

Glaucoma most commonly affects individuals over 40 years, with peak incidence between 50 and 70 years. That said, clinicians are increasingly detecting juvenile and early-onset glaucoma, particularly in those with family history, prior eye trauma or secondary risk factors. Primary open-angle glaucoma remains the most common type, followed by angle-closure disease, while steroid-induced and pseudoexfoliation glaucoma are frequently seen in practice.

“Early signs like peripheral vision loss, frequent changes in glasses or seeing halos are often ignored, as central vision stays intact initially,” noted Dr Murali Ariga, Senior Consultant Ophthalmologist, Dr Agarwals Eye Hospital. “People with a history of eye injuries, even in childhood, are at higher risk and should undergo annual eye screening.”

Doctors also caution against myths that good vision equals healthy eyes, that glaucoma affects only the elderly, or that normal eye pressure rules out the disease. Individuals with diabetes, hypertension, thyroid disorders, high myopia, long-term steroid use or past eye injuries are at increased risk.

Marking Glaucoma Awareness Month, experts emphasize that routine eye examinations are critical. People above 40 should undergo comprehensive eye screening every one to two years, while high-risk individuals need annual evaluations. Vision tests alone are not enough—eye pressure measurement and optic nerve assessment are essential for early detection and prevention of vision loss.

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