Uveitis in association with topically administered corticosteroid

A 34-year-old Negro man with open-angle glaucoma developed decreased intraocular pressure in the eye undergoing provocative testing with topical dexamethasone. When the dexamethasone was discontinued he developed an anterior uveitis. A 48-year-old Negro man with a history of ocular hypertension received topical dexamethasone for 30 days. The eye became uncomfortable, but tension was reduced from 23 mm Hg to 13 mm Hg when the corticosteroid was discontinued. Anterior cells and flares and two small nonpigmented keratic precipitates were present. The etiology of the uveitis was not determined in either patient. In patients with ocular hypertension who develop ocular hypotony while using topical corticosteroids, an underlying uveal inflammation must be suspected. Two patients with ocular hypertension developed unilateral ocular hypotony and anterior uveitis following a period of provocative testing with topical dexamethasone.