After 8 months on 400 micrograms steroid/day, followed by 3 months on 100 micrograms/day, I abrupty stopped taking them. I was expecting something bad to happen, but… for nearly two weeks I felt like I had just done a heavy work out in the gym. I felt so good, my posture was more upright, I walked like I was super fit.

So. Thats my experience of steroids Canada. I don’t recommend that anyone just stop taking them, but I think that maybe for a lot of people it’s possible that they are risking more than they are benefiting. Recently I heard about the cataract risks of steroid inhalation, last week I heard that soft fizzy drinks may cause oesophageal cancer through allowing stomach acid to come out, which is what the steroids might also be doing (in my opinion). Many doctors would tell you that some of these side effects are in fact due to your asthma and need more steroid! My doctor told me that he thought I had a minor virus infection and that if anything I should increase the dose of steroid to reduce the risk of an asthma complication.What I feel uncomfortable about is that people, including those contributing in this support group, very rarely are prepared to consider the possibility that the steroid medication is not quite what it’s made up to be.  Sure, we all want to believe that it works, because there don’t seem to be any viable alternatives, but thats not a good.

I understand that good results are often obtained by inserting a needle into the posterior chamber and injecting steroids directly into the eye. I do not respond to steroids with an increase in IOP. Does anyone have comments on this procedure, before I get it done?

My research into the effectiveness of intraocular steroids, specifically triamcinolone, was not too reassuring. The incidence of endophthalmitis in one study at just under 1% is about ten times higher than I would have
expected. You could end up with an enucleated hole. The researchers pointed out, however, that this group, with five diabetics among the victims, was pretty bad.

I take the bus to work, and my only close work while there is to make some log entries. Thus I think I could use eye drops for a few more days before consulting with those who are paid to answer my questions, and thus do so.

You have asked a specific question about your specific care; the risks/benefits of the procedure depend very much on your particular case details and are best discussed with the doctor who is treating you.

If you are a steroid responder, you can almost guarantee that you will have a pressure problem with the intraocular steroids. Once they are in, it stays for a number of months, and the glaucoma management can be a real bear.
The endophthalmitis risk may be lower now, since they have figured out you should use a fresh sterile bottle every time. If the CME is under control with nonsteroidal eyedrops (Acular, or whatever), the steroid treatment may noit be warranted. It is really for treatment failures.
This area is still rather controversial. This is off-label use of the drug, and its recommended uses is still evolving. The retina specailist is the best one to give you advice.