Effects of three nasal topical steroids in the intraocular pressure compartment.

OBJECTIVE

The purpose of this study was to evaluate whether the use of fluticasone propionate, mometasone furoate, or beclomethasone dipropionate for the treatment of rhinitis produced, as a side effect, an increase in the intraocular pressure; only one printed article proclaims that the increase of secondary intraocular pressure is due to the use of local nasal steroids.

PATIENTS AND STUDY DESIGN

We conducted a comparative, double-blind, experimental, prospective, longitudinal study in which 360 patients were divided at random into 4 groups; 90 of them were given a placebo (control group) and the other 270 were divided into 3 other groups of 90 patients each and given a different local nasal steroid for each group. Measurement parameters All patients had their intraocular pressure measured by Goldman's tonometry at 3 weeks, 6 weeks, 3 months, 6 months, and 1 year after using the placebo or local nasal steroid.

RESULTS

Variations were found in the intraocular pressure of patients who used local steroid, with discreet elevations in the beclomethasone dipropionate and mometasone furoate groups; however, variations were always within normal limits.

CONCLUSION

Fluticasone propionate, mometasone furoate, and beclomethasone dipropionate cause variations in the intraocular pressure, but the variations are within normal limits.