Steroids Leading to Blindness
If a patient is being treated with steroids but is then found to be a 'steroid responder', treatment must be stopped or altered. Otherwise the patient could develop glaucoma, where the optic nerve is damaged and vision is reduced.
If you or your loved one has develop glaucoma because you were wrongfully treated with steroids, please get in touch with us at Glynns Solicitors.
What does steroid responder mean?
Steroids are often used to treat eye conditions such as uveitis. Steroids may be administered in the form of eye drops, nasal sprays, injections or tablets.
A steroid responder is someone who suffers an adverse reaction to this treatment. More specifically, the patient will experience an increase in intraocular pressure (IOP), which is the fluid pressure inside the eye.
It is thought that about 35% of the UK population is at risk of being a steroid responder. There are certain factors that increase your chance of being a steroid responder, including diabetes, high myopia, having primary open angle glaucoma, or having a first degree relative with primary open angle glaucoma.
Recognising a steroid responder
If a patient is being treated with steroids, he/she must have their intraocular pressure checked regularly. This can be done with a special device called a tonometer. If the IOP increases during treatment, the patient is a steroid responder.
What action should be taken?
When a patient is found to be a steroid responder, action should be taken immediately. At first the patient might not display any problems, but if treatment continues their sight will begin to falter. If left for too long the patient will actually develop glaucoma, where the increase in intraocular pressure damages the optic nerve, resulting in the loss of vision.
Therefore if possible the steroid treatment should be stopped. Or an alternative treatment, such as a 'non-penetrating' steroid, should be used instead. The patient's IOP must be monitored to check it returns to normal levels. If damaged has been sustained, the patient may also need anti-glaucoma treatment.
My treatment was not stopped
If medical practitioners failed to check whether you were a steroid responder and you developed complications such as glaucoma and vision loss, you could be a victim of medical negligence. The same applies if you were identified as a steroid responder, yet your treatment was not stopped or altered.
To find out whether you can pursue a claim for medical negligence, please get in touch with us at Glynns Solicitors.
Call us free on 0800 234 3300 (or from a mobile 01275 334030) or complete our Online Enquiry Form.
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