To determine the incidence of steroid-induced ocular hypertension following myopic vision correction.

This study retrospectively reviewed the medical records of 6,087 patients (12,164 eyes) who underwent myopic refractive surgery (laser-assisted in-situ keratomileusis [LASIK]/photorefractive keratectomy [PRK]/phakic intraocular lens [IOL] implantation) at Eyereum Eye Clinic between July 2011 and February 2013. Ocular hypertension was defined when post-operative intraocular pressure (IOP) was increased more than 30% compared to predicted IOP adjusted according to corneal thickness. All preoperative IOPs were measured using Goldmann applanation tonometer (GAT). Postoperative IOPs were measured using non-contact tonometer first and with GAT when the IOP was suspiciously increased.

Steroid-induced ocular hypertension after a myopic refractive surgery occurred in 680 eyes (5.58%) of 404 patients (6.64%). The incidence based on surgery was LASIK (0.06%, 2/3, 514 eyes) followed by PRK (7.63%, 575/7,533 eyes) and phakic IOL implantation (9.2%, 103/1,117 eyes). The average increased IOP level in patients with steroid-induced ocular hypertension was 5.62 ± 3.73 mm Hg after PRK and 9.35 ± 4.95 mm Hg after phakic IOL implantation. A statistically significantly higher change in IOP was observed in the phakic IOL group ( p < 0.001). However, the PRK group had a longer treatment period for ocular hypertension and used more antiglaucoma medications than the phakic IOL group ( p < 0.05). Most patients with ocular hypertension were successfully treated with cessation of topical steroid or use of antiglaucoma medications. Only 2 eyes required glaucoma surgery because IOP was not controlled.

IOP measurements should be initiated no later than 1 week after surgery because steroid-induced ocular hypertension following myopic refractive surgery can occur in approximately 5.58% of patients and most cases of ocular hypertension can be controlled with careful follow-up and use of antiglaucoma medications.