Cataract and glaucoma after wear of contact lens soaked in steroid solution: a rare complication.

PURPOSE

To report an unusual case of steroid-induced cataract and glaucoma after wearing soft contact lens soaked in steroid solution.

METHODS

Case report of a 28-year-old man who presented with progressive decrease in vision of both the eyes of 2 years' duration. He was wearing conventional soft contact lens from the past 3 years. He used to buy the lenses from an optician and started storing the lenses in steroid solution overnight for the last 2 years.

RESULTS

His best-corrected visual acuity was 20/40 in both the eyes. Anterior segment evaluation revealed posterior subcapsular cataract in both the eyes. IOP was 12 mm of Hg in the right eye and 22 mm of Hg in the left eye. Fundus examination showed a cup disc ratio 0.9:1 in the right eye and 0.8:1 in the left eye. Humphrey visual fields revealed incomplete biarcuate scotoma in both the eyes.

CONCLUSIONS

Steroid-induced cataract and glaucoma in a contact lens wearer is an extremely rare complication. To our knowledge, there is no previous case of steroid-induced cataract and glaucoma in a conventional soft contact lens wearer. This case emphasizes the role of optometrists and ophthalmologists in patient education while dispensing contact lenses, especially in developing countries.