Topical Corticosteroid in Normal Patients and Glaucoma Suspects

Abstract

Several normal and glaucoma suspect populations were studied during four weeks of topical 0.1% dexamethasone prescribed four times daily in either one or both eyes. The difference in tension before and after steroid (Δ Ta) is independent of the initial tension. In 24 glaucoma suspects there was a 79% response (Δ Ta ≧ 6 mm Hg) and in 75 normal white patients there was a 60% response. The difference between these two groups is not significant. There was a lesser response in Negroes than in whites. An important uncontrolled factor was patient motivation in using the drops as prescribed. We suggest that the steroid hypertensive response is a genetic marker that relates to normal and glaucoma patients in a similar manner.