Cortisonic Glaucoma In Children: Epidemiological, Therapeutic And Progressive Profile

The aim of this study is to evaluate the epidemiological, clinical, therapeutic and progressive profile of cortisonic glaucoma mainly in children.

Corticosonic glaucoma is a rare, iatrogenic pathology induced by prolonged use of corticosteroids. It is a serious pathology with a high risk of blindness.

This is a retrospective study concerning 37 children (64 eyes) treated for cortisonic glaucoma in the pediatric ophthalmology department.
of Casablanca. The period of the study was 16 years spread between November 2007 and September 2023. We present an epidemiological, clinical study with evaluation of the importance of the functional impairment upon discovery of the disease (visual acuity and visual field). We also present our therapeutic results with a follow-up which varies from 1 to 16 years.

Our study involved 37 children: 22 boys and 15 girls, with an average age of 12 years. The involvement was bilateral in 25 patients (71.5%). All patients had a history of self-medication with local or oral corticosteroids for an average period of 5 years. 60% of eyes had visual acuity between 0.1 and 0.3. The average intraocular pressure on admission was 36±12mmHg. The c/d ratio was 0.68±0.25. All our patients had an open angle on gonioscopy and severe perimetric deficits. 19 eyes (32%) had associated cataract. IOP was controlled after stopping steroids in 8 eyes, associated with antiglaucoma treatment in 22 eyes. Surgical treatment carried out in 30 eyes.

he evolution was favorable in 82% with stabilization of ocular tone and excavation.

Cortisonic glaucoma is a condition in which the functional prognosis remains threatened, particularly in young patients, hence the importance of regular monitoring of IOP. The first line of treatment involves prevention and adequate management of allergic conjunctivitis in children, mainly vernal keratoconjunctiv