My Story

Allergic Diseases and Steroid Medications

I have had allergies since birth, and throughout my childhood I struggled with allergic asthma and atopic dermatitis, both chronic allergic conditions. As part of my treatment, I have used corticosteroids for many years—through inhalers for asthma and topical or oral medications for my skin. At the time, these steroid-based treatments were the standard and necessary to manage my symptoms. However, as I grew older, I was diagnosed with both cataracts and glaucoma. After discussing my medical history with my doctor, I was told that long-term steroid use was likely a contributing factor. While steroids are powerful and often essential medicines that can protect lives and improve quality of life, I’ve come to realize through my own experience that they also carry serious risks—especially to one’s vision—that are not always immediately visible or well understood.

Cataract Diagnosis

Back in 2015, I was living in Cebu, Philippines. The Philippines is a tropical country, and in Cebu, the temperature stays pretty consistent year-round, usually between 25 to 30°C.
That kind of climate was perfect for me since I have chronic bronchial asthma. Because it’s a tropical place, the sunlight is always really strong, but after a while, I started noticing that the glare felt especially harsh. Eventually, even indoor lighting began to feel too bright, and that’s when I realized something was off.

When I went back to Japan and got an eye exam, I was diagnosed with cataracts. At the time, I didn’t have enough time to get surgery during that trip, so I decided to have it done the next time I returned. About six months later, I went back to Japan, got another check-up, received eye drops, and started preparing for the surgery. The surgery itself was done as a day procedure, and everything went smoothly afterward. After a few follow-up visits, I went back to Cebu.

Glaucoma Diagnosis

In March 2020, the Philippines went into lockdown because of COVID-19. It ended up being one of the strictest and longest lockdowns in the world.

Just before the lockdown started, I noticed that part of the vision in my left eye was getting a little blurry. After my cataract surgery, the doctor had told me that proteins could build up on the lens they implanted and that it might need to be cleared with a laser. So I figured that was what was causing the blurry vision and went to the eye doctor. I told them about my cataract surgery, and they used a laser to remove the proteins. But my vision didn’t get any better. I went back for another check-up, and that’s when I was diagnosed with glaucoma. Soon after that, the lockdown began. With glaucoma, there's no cure—it's all about lowering the eye pressure using eye drops. But because of the lockdown, distribution shut down, and I couldn’t even go out to buy the medication. Little by little, I started losing more of my vision.

A Message to All Steroid Users

Steroids are commonly prescribed to treat a wide range of conditions—such as allergies, autoimmune diseases, and inflammatory disorders. But if you’re someone who uses steroids over the long term or in high doses, you may be at higher risk for developing eye conditions like cataracts and glaucoma compared to the general population. Side effects such as steroid-induced glaucoma (elevated intraocular pressure) or posterior subcapsular cataracts can develop quietly, often without noticeable symptoms at first. That’s why it’s so important to take the following precautions:

Get regular eye exams
Always inform your eye doctor if you have a history of steroid use
Seek immediate medical attention if you notice any changes in your vision

By sharing my story, I hope to raise awareness and help others who rely on steroids to catch these complications early and protect their eyesight.