Glucocorticosteroid induced cataract – drug-induced damage of vision organ which is worth paying attention in the treatment of inflammatory bowel diseases

Inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD) are a group of diseases which concern an increasing number of patients and are more and more often recognized at a young age. Because of unknown etiology, IBD treatment involves mainly non-specific suppression of inflammatory condition and is based among others on steroids. Glucocorticosteroids display anti-inflammatory action by affecting the course of immune responses, but they also possess several side effects which manifest predominantly during a long-term therapy. These concern, among others the eye and manifest by impaired vision; if left untreated, can lead to blindness. The glucocorticosteroid induced cataract is one of the most common complications of treatment with glucocorticosteroids. In the absence of pharmacological options which have a protective effect, the glucocor­ticosteroid induced cataract is a major problem not only for patients but also clinicians and needs immediate solutions.